Plantago Semen, Plantain Seed, Che Qian Zi 车前子

Che Qian Zi (TCM)

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   Red Plantain (variety)        Greater Plantain 
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

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Left: Greater Plantain; Middle: Ribwort Plantain; Right: Buck’s-Horn Plantain
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

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   Greater Plantain    Ribwort Plantain
Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640

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P. major
Flora von Deutschland (20), Kohler, 1885

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P. lanceolata
Flora von Deutschland (20), Kohler, 1885

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P. asciatica
Illustrations Of Indian Botany, Vol. II, Wight, 1850

Plantain seed Che Qian Zi
(Adam, 2025)

Botanical name:

Plantago spp.
Several species are used:

  1. P. majus: Greater Plantain;
  2. P. lanceolata: Ribwort Plantain;
  3. P. coronopus: Buck’s-Horn Plantain
  4. P. asciatica and others are used in India and China.
  5. P. ovata
  6. P. arenaria

Chen and Chen (2001) state that there are a number of species of Plantain globally and all may be used synonymously.

Parts used:

Seed

Temperature & Taste:

Cool, slightly moist with a drying effect. Slightly Bitter and Sweet
cleanses, thickens

Classifications:

2P. HEMOSTATICS
3B. FEBRIFUGE & ANTIPYRETIC.  3D. CORDIALS & CARDIACS
4c. CARDIAC.  4h. NEPHRITIC

Uses:

1. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine: (TCM, West)

-Urinary Tract Infections, Cystitis, Edema, Oliguria, Strangury
-Ulcers of the bladder and kidneys;
-seed prepared with Salt is also used for frequent or difficult urination from damp heat
-Damp-Heat Diarrhea, Dysentery, Gonorrhea etc.
-Prostatitis; Candida

2. Stops Leakage, Strengthens the Kidneys: (TCM, West)

-Spermatorrhea, Impotence and premature Ejaculation from Kidney deficiency (TCM).
-Diabetes-like conditions (Europe)
-Lumbago, Bed-wetting in children; also Nephritis in TCM
-Excess Menstruation from Heat‘Half a dram of the seeds taken daily in broth, or in an Egg, is good to prevent Miscarriage’ (Pechy). (TCM, West)’
-long term use makes one happy and able to enjoy a long life’. (Shen Nong Ben Cao)
-‘strengthens Yin, reinforces Jing [Essence]’ (Bing Yi Bie Lu)’
-promotes Longevity’ (Tao Hong Jing)

3. Clears Phlegm and Heat, Stops Cough (TCM, West):

-Heat type Cough with profuse sputum

4. Clears Liver Heat (TCM, West):

-Red Eyes, Headache, Irritability
-Jaundice
-Gastro-duodenal Ulcers from heat.
-Convulsions, Epilepsy, Vertigo
-seeds are given for Jaundice and Vertigo (TCM)   

5. Clears Heat, Benefits the Eyes:

-red, swollen and sore Eyes; poor Vision from Liver weakness; light sensitivity (TCM)

6. Moistens to Promote Stool:

-moist laxative in constipation

7. Promotes Labor:

-‘good for treating Difficult Labor’. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)

Dose:

Seed in Powder: 2–5 grams
Seed in Decoction: 6–15 grams

Preparation:

1. Stir-fried Plantain Seed:
  The seeds are dry fried until they start to pop.
  This is less cooling and best when used in decoction. (Li Shi Zhen)
2. Wine-prepared Plantain Seed:
  Wash the seed, then soak in wine overnight. Then steam it, grind to paste make cakes and dry in the sun. Then it is baked and ground into powder.
  This is the best method of preparation when used in pills or powders. (Li Shi Zhen)
3. Salt-prepared Plantain Seed:
  The seed is often prepared with Salt in TCM; this is best for urgent or frequent urination, Kidney weakness with Impotence or premature Ejaculation, and is regarded as best for Eye conditions.

Substitute:

1. As stated above, various species of Plantago can supply the seed as they all have similar function.
2. Plantain herb is very similar in effect to the seed and may replace it when required. However, the seed is more moistening.
3. ‘Similar to Poria Fu Ling in function’ (Wang Hao Gu)

Main Combinations:

1. For heat-type Bleeding: Plantain root & seed, Red Earth, Bistort, Pomegranate peel, Hematite, Red Coral, Orange peel (as in Plantain Powder)
2. Bleeding from the Lungs, Plantain juice, Plantain seed, Armenian (Red) Earth, Red Coral; mix and drink (Arnold de Villa Nova)
3. Edema, Dribbling or Obstructed Urine, with Water Plantain root. These two medicines are used in TCM to clear Damp without damaging Yin which diuretics tend to do. (TCM)
4. Painful, dribbling, burning urine:
i. Plantain seed with 4 Cold Seeds
ii. Plantain seed with Gardenia Zhi Zi (TCM)
iii. Plantain seed with Knotgrass (Bian Xu), Rhubarb (Da Huang), Talcum, Gardenia Zhi Zi, Licorice (as in Ba Zheng He Ji of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
5. Liver Heat with Red Eyes, Headache, Irritability, Plantain seed with Scutellaria Huang Qin, Gentian (Long Dan Cao) and Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua) (TCM)
6. Conjunctivitis, Plantain seed Che Qian Zi (8 grams), Ephedra Ma Huang (5 grams). Decoct. (TCM)
7. Strengthen the Kidneys, Plantain Seed with Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), form Honey pills. ‘It is a drug working wonders’ (Su Song)
8. Diabetes, excess Urination, Plantain seed with Purslane seed, Coriander seed, Rose, Red Coral, Armenian Earth, Tormentil, Nutmeg (as in Powder for Diabetes of Riverius)
9. Diarrhea from Damp-Heat:
i. take 6 grams of Plantain powder with Rice soup. (Li Shi Zhen)
ii. or Damp with Spleen deficiency Plantain seed with Atractylodes Bai Zhu and Jobs Tears (Yi Yi Ren). (TCM)
10. Excessive Menstruation, Plantain seed with Tormentil, Nutmeg (as in Powder for Excessive Menstruation)
11. Threatened Miscarriage:
i. “Riverius informs us, that the French Women, to prevent abortion, take ½ dram of Plantain-Seeds in Broth, or in an Egg, during the whole nine Months of their being with Child, and not without Success”. (The Compleat Herbal, Tournefort, 1719)
ii. Plantain seed with Pearl, Amber, Red Coral, Mastic, Sealed Earth, Tormentil, Clove (as in Powder Against Abortion)
12. To promote Labor, Plantain seed with Lavender seed (as in Powder of Lavender Seed to Promote Labor)
13. Menopause, Plantain seed, Pumpkin seed, Safflower (Hong Hua), Honeysuckle flower (Jin Yin Hua) (Japanese patent remedy)
14. Cataracts from Yin deficiency, Plantain seed with Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Lycium Gou Qi (Goji berries), Dodder, seed (TCM)

Major Formulas:

Powder for Diabetes (Riverius)
Powder of Lavender Seed to Promote Labor
Powder for Bleeding During Pregnancy
Powder for Excessive Menstruation
Powder Against Abortion
Troches of Agnus Castus

TCM:
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Ba Zhen San
Jia Wei Shen Qi Wan
Long Dan Bi Yuan Tang
Shi Wei San
Wan Dai Tang
Yi Huang Tang

Cautions:

Generally Safe. Use cautiously in cold and weakness of the digestion

Main Preparations used:

Click the above Tabs for more information on this medicine

NEPHRPROTECTIVE
–Plantaginis Semen polysaccharides ameliorate renal damage through regulating NLRP3 inflammasome in gouty nephropathy rats.
DIABETES
–[Chemical constituents from hypoglycemic active part of Plantaginis Semen].
–Plantago asiatica L. Seed Extract Improves Lipid Accumulation and Hyperglycemia in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.
DIABETIC RETINAL INJURY
–Antioxidant-Rich Extract from Plantaginis Semen Ameliorates Diabetic Retinal Injury in a Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rat Model.
ANTI-ULCER
–Antiulcer and hepatoprotective effects of aqueous extract of Plantago ovata seed on indomethacin-ulcerated rats.
ULCERATIVE COLITIS
–Efficacy of Plantago major seed in management of ulcerative colitis symptoms: A randomized, placebo controlled, clinical trial.
HYPERTENSION
–Plantago asiatica Seed Extracts Alleviated Blood Pressure in Phase I⁻Spontaneous Hypertension Rats.
HEPATOPROTECTIVE
–Antiulcer and hepatoprotective effects of aqueous extract of Plantago ovata seed on indomethacin-ulcerated rats.

BENEFICIAL EFFECT ON LIVER ENZYMES
–The Efficacy of Plantago major Seed on Liver Enzymes in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial.
FATTY LIVER DISEASE
–The Efficacy of Plantago major Seed on Liver Enzymes in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial.
OBESITY
–Comparison of main chemical composition of Plantago asiatica L. and P. depressa Willd. seed extracts and their anti-obesity effects in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.
–Plantago asiatica L. Seed Extract Improves Lipid Accumulation and Hyperglycemia in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.
–The effect of a Plantago ovata seed containing preparation on appetite variables, nutrient and energy intake.
OSTEOPOROSIS
–[Effects of drug serum of plantaginis semen on bone formation function of rat osteoblast in vitro].
CHEMOTHERAPY SIDE EFFECTS: PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
–Search of anti-allodynic compounds from Plantaginis Semen, a crude drug ingredient of Kampo formula “Goshajinkigan”.

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