Pu Gong Ying (蒲公英) — Dandelion TCM Herb | Mastitis, Heat Toxin & Liver-Gallbladder

At a Glance

Herb: Pu Gong Ying
Chinese name: 蒲公英 (Pú Gōng Yīng)
Latin name: Herba Taraxaci
Nature: Cold
Taste: Bitter / Sweet
Meridian: Liver / Stomach
Category: Herbs that Clear Heat and Resolve Toxicity
Introduction: Pu Gong Ying (蒲公英, Herba Taraxaci) is the dried whole plant of Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. or related Taraxacum species — the common dandelion, found throughout temperate regions worldwide. Both a humble weed and a powerful medicinal plant, dandelion has been used in Chinese medicine since at least the Tang dynasty, with the first substantial medical description appearing in the Xinxiu Bencao (659 CE). Its primary action is resolving fire toxicity — making it the foremost herb for breast abscess (ru yong, 乳痈) in classical literature, a clinical association so strong that it earned the alternative name 乳痈草 (breast abscess herb). Beyond breast conditions, Pu Gong Ying clears damp-heat from the Liver and Stomach, treats urinary tract infections, and serves as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial herb with an outstanding safety profile that makes it suitable for both acute infections and long-term use.

Clears heat and resolves fire toxicity: Treats all hot inflammatory conditions — the primary herb for breast abscesses (mastitis, ru yong) and intestinal abscesses (chang yong). 2. Clears damp-heat from the Liver and Stomach: Treats jaundice, bitter taste, and hypochondriac pain from Liver-Gallbladder damp-heat; reduces transaminase elevation. 3. Promotes urination and resolves damp-heat: Treats painful urinary tract infections with burning dysuria and turbid urine. 4. Reduces swelling and disperses masses: Softens and disperses hot inflammatory swellings including lymphadenopathy, mastitis, and skin abscesses.

Pu Gong Ying is the leading herb for breast abscess — used at high doses (30–60 g fresh, 15–30 g dried) both internally and as a topical poultice in mastitis and early breast abscess. In Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin it combines with Jin Yin Hua, Ye Ju Hua, Zi Hua Di Ding, and Zi Bei Tian Kui for all varieties of hot abscesses and carbuncles. For Liver-Gallbladder damp-heat and jaundice it is combined with Yin Chen and Zhi Zi. For urinary tract infections it pairs with Che Qian Zi and Qu Mai. Modern clinical applications include acute mastitis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, urinary tract infections, and H. pylori eradication.

Contraindicated in yin-type abscesses and sores (cold, pale, without heat signs). Use with caution in patients with Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold and loose stools — cold bitter nature may worsen diarrhea. Rarely, allergic contact dermatitis reported with topical application (sesquiterpene lactones). Generally one of the safest heat-clearing herbs — suitable for long-term use in chronic conditions. Fresh plant (Xian Pu Gong Ying) preferred for topical poultice application.

Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin (五味消毒饮): Jin Yin Hua, Ye Ju Hua, Pu Gong Ying, Zi Hua Di Ding, Zi Bei Tian Kui.
Pu Gong Ying Tang (蒲公英汤): Pu Gong Ying alone at high dose (30–60 g) — acute mastitis.
Topical poultice: Fresh crushed Pu Gong Ying applied directly to inflamed breast tissue.

Pu Gong Ying + Jin Yin Hua + Ye Ju Hua + Zi Hua Di Ding + Zi Bei Tian Kui (Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin): Hot abscesses, carbuncles, and mastitis. Source: Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition (医宗金鉴).
Pu Gong Ying + Gua Lou + Ru Xiang + Mo Yao: Breast abscess and mastitis — internal and topical. Source: Classical breast abscess formula tradition.
Pu Gong Ying + Yin Chen + Zhi Zi + Da Huang: Liver-Gallbladder damp-heat with jaundice. Source: Wenbing school adaptations.
Pu Gong Ying + Che Qian Zi + Qu Mai + Bian Xu: Damp-heat urinary tract infection with burning dysuria. Source: Ba Zheng San variations.
Pu Gong Ying + Bai Jiang Cao + Yi Yi Ren: Intestinal abscess (appendicitis) — heat toxin with damp. Source: Da Huang Mu Dan Pi Tang variants.

Broad-spectrum antimicrobial
- Active against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, H. pylori, Candida albicans, and hepatitis B virus in vitro
Hepatoprotective
- Reduces ALT, AST, and bilirubin in hepatotoxicity models
- promotes bile flow (choleretic)
High potassium content
- Diuretic: supports natural diuresis without electrolyte depletion — uniquely replaces urinary potassium loss (unlike synthetic diuretics)
Taraxacin and luteolin
- Anti-inflammatory: inhibit COX-2, NF-κB, and reduce TNF-α, IL-6
Taraxasterol and chicoric acid
- Anti-tumour: show anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer cell lines in vitro

《新修本草》(Xinxiu Bencao, 659 CE): ‘蒲公草，味甘，平，无毒。主妇人乳痈肿，水煮汁饮及封之，立消。’ (Pu Gong Cao: sweet flavour, balanced, non-toxic. Governs breast abscess and swelling in women — decoct in water, drink the juice and apply as poultice; it dissolves immediately.)
《本草纲目》(Bencao Gangmu, 1596): ‘蒲公英，解食毒，散滞气，化热毒，消恶肿结核，疗妇人乳痈。’ (Pu Gong Ying resolves food toxins, scatters stagnant qi, transforms heat toxin, disperses malign swellings and nodules, and treats breast abscess in women.)
《本草经疏》(Bencao Jingshu, 1625): ‘蒲公英，其性无毒，诸家皆称之，盖甘平之药，能解热凉血，是以化热毒，消肿核，有奇功也。’ (Pu Gong Ying is non-toxic as all authorities affirm. As a sweet balanced herb it can resolve heat and cool blood — hence its remarkable merit in transforming heat toxin and dispersing swelling and nodules.)