Ai Ye
Artemisiae argyi Folium
bitter, acrid, warm
PRIMARY FUNCTION:
Stop Bleeding
CLASSICAL MANIFESTATIONS:
- Menorrhagia
- Due to cold patterns in the lower jiao
- Metrorrhagia
- Due to cold patterns in the lower jiao
- Pain
- In the middle jiao and lower jiao
- Due to cold patterns
- Itching
- Due to dampness
- Infertility
- Especially due to cold patterns
- Threatened miscarriage
- Due to cold in the lower jiao
- Cough (with phlegm)
- Especially cold pattern
- Asthma
- Due to kidney not grasping
This herb is used often in gynecological disorders. It can be used for menstrual bleeding or excessive uterine and vaginal bleeding if the cause is a cold pattern either from excess cold invading the lower jiao or from yang deficiency (the inability of the body to maintain homeostatic thermogenesis).
The bitter nature of this herb is the detoxifying quality that drains out the cold damp while the acrid characteristic disperses the buildup of cold or damp or damp cold.
The warming function supports the body’s inability to warm (yang deficient) but, it is not considered a yang tonic. This application is a branch treatment unless the warming function is applied topically in the form of moxa, with or without acupuncture needles. Then it can activate and normalize yang hormones from the adrenal glands making it a root treatment for kidney yang deficiency patterns.
This herb can be also used for infertility caused by lower jiao yang deficiency cold pattern. It can treat pain due to cold in uterus or abdomen. The use for preventing miscarriage acts by warming and calming the uterus.
Its pain relieving quality in the channels is also due to its warming quality and is best applied when the cause is cold either from deficiency or excess.
It is good for skin irritations caused from dampness with itching (internal and external applications). One source included a function for expelling phlegm for cough and asthma.
channels: spleen, liver, kidney
COMMON APPLICATIONS AND CLINICAL POSSIBILITIES:
- Increase pancreatic secretions
- Enzymes for digestion
- Vasodilation
- Increasing circulation
- Improve biliary function
- Bile flow
- Cough suppression
- Bronchial dilation
- Hormone function
- Adrenal glands
- Reduction of diarrhea/dysentery
- Upper gastrointestinal function
- Hemorrhagic disorders
- Cold patterns
- Abdominal pain
- Cold patterns
- Infertility
- Cold in uterus
- Dermatitis
- Immune system activation
- Antimicrobial
- Wart removal
- Threatened miscarriage
- Digestive function
- Enzymes
- Bile
- Reduction of cold obstructions
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Strains
- After initial swelling has reduced
- Sprains
- After initial swelling has reduced
- Sports injuries
- After initial swelling has reduced
- Arthritis
- Cold bi syndrome
- Muscle pain
- Cold muscle bi syndrome
Formulas:
- Jiao Ai Tang
- Bao Chan Wu You Fang
- Ai Fu Nuan Gong Wan
- Xiang Ai Xiong Gui Yin
Contraindications: do not prescribe Ai Ye to heat patterns from deficiency of yin
Zoo Image: a black widow with a cold bloody womb containing a restless baby spider is being examined under a magnifying glass by someone with a rash on their hands
