Xian He Cao

What Is Xian He Cao (Agrimoniae Herba, Agrimony)?

Xian He Cao is the dried aerial part of Agrimonia pilosa, with the pharmaceutical Latin name Agrimoniae Herba; in English it is called agrimony or hairyvein agrimonia. The plant is harvested in summer and autumn while flowering, when the tall spikes of small yellow flowers are present, and the leafy stems are dried and cut into sections. The dried herb is grey-green, softly hairy, and bitter and astringent in taste. It grows widely and has a long folk history, reflected in its country name, the "overexertion herb," for tiredness after heavy physical labor.

TCM Properties and Actions

Xian He Cao is neutral, or balanced, in nature and bitter and astringent in flavor, and it enters the Lung, Liver, and Spleen channels. Its neutrality means it is not strongly heating or cooling, and the astringent quality accounts for much of its use.

Its core actions are to stop bleeding of all types, expel parasites, and tonify. As a hemostatic herb it is traditionally used for bleeding in many locations and in both heat and cold patterns: coughing or vomiting blood, nosebleeds, blood in the stool or urine, heavy or prolonged uterine bleeding, and bleeding from minor external wounds. Its parasite-expelling action addresses intestinal worms, particularly tapeworm, in traditional practice. The tonifying side is modest: it is used for fatigue and lassitude after prolonged exertion or chronic, low-grade bleeding, rather than as a primary strength tonic. Chronic bleeding and fatigue often appear together in the patterns for which it is chosen.

Traditional Use and Common Combinations

Classical practice uses Xian He Cao both alone and in formulas: with cooling hemostatic herbs when bleeding is attributed to heat, with warming tonifying herbs when bleeding follows deficiency, and in larger dedicated use for parasite expulsion. For the weariness of overwork it is sometimes decocted with red dates in folk practice. The fresh herb has also been crushed for topical application to minor wounds.

These are pattern-based uses. Bleeding is never a symptom to assume away: coughing blood, black stools, heavy vaginal bleeding, blood in urine, or prolonged unexplained bleeding can signal serious disease and requires prompt medical evaluation, and anemia should be confirmed and treated rather than assumed.

Safety, Contraindications, and Interactions

Xian He Cao is relatively safe within its traditional dosage. High doses may cause sedation, so drowsiness or slowed reactions after taking it call for a lower dose and professional advice, and combining it with sedating medication or alcohol is unwise. People taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication should use it only under supervision, and it should be stopped before surgery as a physician directs. Any new bleeding while taking it, or allergic symptoms such as rash, warrants stopping and seeking care.

How TCM Practitioners Use It Today

The standard dosage is 9-15 grams. It is usually decocted within a hemostatic or tonifying formula, and also appears in pills and powders; prepared forms and fresh products are used for different purposes, including parasite protocols managed by a practitioner. Because it is neutral and well tolerated, it is one of the more commonly chosen astringent hemostatic herbs, but bleeding itself is always investigated rather than simply suppressed. This guide is for education only and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a qualified practitioner or physician.

Frequently asked questions

Is Xian He Cao safe during pregnancy?

The herb is considered relatively mild and is not traditionally forbidden, but it should never be used to self-treat bleeding during pregnancy. Any vaginal bleeding in pregnancy is an obstetric emergency needing immediate medical care rather than astringent herbs. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should otherwise take it only under practitioner guidance.

Can Xian He Cao replace prescription medication?

No. Persistent or unexplained bleeding, anemia, and parasitic infection require diagnosis and standard care. Xian He Cao cannot replace evaluation for bleeding disorders, iron therapy when deficiency is confirmed, or prescribed antiparasitic medication; it is used supportively within a traditional formula.

What is the difference between Xian He Cao and He Cao Ya?

Both come from Agrimonia pilosa. Xian He Cao, agrimony, is the dried aerial plant harvested at flowering; it is a neutral astringent used for many types of bleeding and for fatigue after prolonged exertion. He Cao Ya, agrimony bud, is the fresh or dried winter bud and root crown, reserved almost entirely in traditional practice for expelling intestinal tapeworms. The two parts are not interchangeable at the same dose.