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Oenanthe, Shui Qin 水芹

Java Water Dropwort
Shui Qin (TCM)
Jatera (Ayurveda)
Wight, R., Icones plantarum Indiae orientalis (1840-1853)

Oenanthe javanica
(Photo by 阿橋) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:
Oenanthe spp.
Several species are used:
  1. O. javanica (syn. O. stolonifera) – Shui Qin
  2. O. benghalensis
  3. O. rivularis
  4. O. decumbens

Parts used:
Whole plant

Temperature & Taste:
Neutral/Slightly Cool. Sweet, Pungent, Sour

Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Heat, Resists Poison:
-Fever, Fever with Thirst, childhood Fevers including Cholera
-Influenza, Common Cold
-effective against allergies, allergic rhinitis
-Cough, Bronchitis
-Carbuncles, Boils
-Scrofula, Lymphadenitis, Tumors (strong Anti-tumor effect)
-Neuralgia from Wind and Heat
-Hypertension

2. Moves the Blood, Stops Bleeding:
-Hematuria
-Uterine Bleeding
-Blood Stasis

3. Clears Heat, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Strangury, Urinary Tract Infections
-Leukorrhea
-Gonorrhea
-Jaundice

4. Tonifies Qi, Nourishes Essence:
-has mild Qi and Essence-nourishing effects
-strengthens Muscles, increases Weight
-some classical texts state it 'nourishes the Mind' (Meng Shen)
-Wasting, Tuberculosis


DOSE:
It is eaten as a vegetable in China.
Decoction: 9–30 grams

Main Combinations:
1. Childhood Fever, Oenanthe with Malted Barley (Mai Ya) and Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)
2. Choleria in children with vomiting and diarrhea: finely cut the fresh leaves, boil and give the decoction.
3. Cough, Oenanthe with Plantain leaf and Licorice
4. Wind-Heat Cold or Influenza, Oenanthe with Lonicera Lian Qiao, Peppermint (Bo He)
5. Difficult Urination:
i. decoct 9 grams in water and drink over the day.
ii. Oenanthe with Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi), Phellodendron Huang Bai
6. As a Qi and Essence tonic, it can be combined with Astragalus Huang Qi and Atractylodes Bai Zhu (to increase Qi), and with Rehmannia Sheng Di and Lycium Gou Qi Zi ('Goji') (to increase Essence)

Major Formulas:


Cautions:
Caution with marked Digestive weakness.

Main Preparations used:

Research
1. Anti-allergy
2. Hepato-protective
3. Anti-arrhythmic