Shu Wei Huang – Rostellularia – Herba Rostellulariae

Shu Wei Huang (Jue Chuang Cao)

English Name: rostellularia, justicia (procumbens); water willow

Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Rostellulariae

Medica Category: Heat-Clearing and Toxin-Eliminating Herbs

Properties: Shu Wei Huang enters the Liver and Lung channels; it is bitter in nature and cold in temperature.

What is Shu Wei Huang?:

The Chinese Herb Shu Wei Huang is the dried plant rostellularia (or water willow– (Justicia procumbens L; Rostellularia procumbens L.)), a small annual herb with little purple, thistle-like flowers that grows throughout the Phillippines, into China and South through to Australia.

**safety note: Shu Wei Huang is contraindicated during pregnancy.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Shu Wei Huang:

Shu Wei Huang regulates qi, invigorates blood and reduces stagnation and inflammation. It is used topically or internally in formula to treat various toxic-heat conditions with swelling ranging from sore throat and swollen glands from a wind-heat attack to infected sores, carbuncles, abscesses and the like.

Shu Wei Huang promotes diuresis to address such toxic heat conditions as edema, dysentery, nephritis, jaundice, and STDs (with yellow discharge).