Zhu Ye (竹叶) — Bamboo Leaf | TCM Herb Guide

At a Glance

• Herb: Zhu Ye
• Chinese name: 竹叶 (Zhú Yè)
• Latin name: Phyllostachys nigrae Folium
• Nature: Cold
• Taste: Sweet / Bland
• Meridian: Heart / Stomach / Small Intestine
• Category: Herbs that Clear Heat and Drain Fire
• Introduction: Zhu Ye (竹叶), Folium Phyllostachis, is the dried leaf of Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis or related bamboo species. A gentle heat-clearing herb, it clears heart fire and relieves irritability, promotes urination to drain heat downward, and generates fluids. It is lighter in action than Zhu Ye (Dan Zhu Ye), making it suitable for mild irritability, mouth sores, and dysuria in febrile or deficiency heat patterns. Modern research shows anti-inflammatory and antioxidant flavonoids.

Action

• Clears heart fire and relieves irritability
• Generates fluids and relieves thirst
• Promotes urination to drain heat
• Clears heat from the upper jiao

Clinical Application

• Heart fire with irritability, mouth sores, insomnia — combines with Mu Tong, Sheng Di Huang, Gan Cao
• Febrile disease with thirst and restlessness — combines with Shi Gao, Zhi Mu, Lu Gen
• Dysuria with heat: scanty, dark, burning urine — combines with Mu Tong, Hua Shi
• Summerheat with irritability and thirst — combines with Xi Gua Pi, He Ye, Lian Zi Xin
• Mild mouth sores and tongue ulcers — decoction used as mouthwash or taken internally

Precautions

• Dosage: 6–15 g in decoction
• Contraindicated in spleen deficiency cold or cold-type diarrhea
• Distinguish from Dan Zhu Ye (淡竹叶): different plant (Lophatherum gracile); Dan Zhu Ye is stronger for promoting urination
• Gentle herb — generally safe with no significant toxicity
• Suitable for children with heat irritability and mouth sores

Formula

• Dao Chi San (导赤散): Zhu Ye (or Dan Zhu Ye), Sheng Di Huang, Mu Tong, Gan Cao — clears heart fire, promotes urination; classic for mouth sores and dysuria from heart heat
• Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang (竹叶石膏汤): Zhu Ye, Shi Gao, Ban Xia, Mai Dong, Ren Shen, Jing Mi, Zhi Gan Cao — clears residual heat, nourishes qi and yin after febrile illness
• Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin (清心莲子饮): includes Zhu Ye to clear heart heat and promote urination

Combinations

• Lophatherum Herb (竹叶) + Gypsum (石膏) + Ginseng Root (人参) → Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang (竹叶石膏汤): clear qi-level heat, nourish yin; aftermath of febrile disease and lingering fever
• Lophatherum Herb (竹叶) + Akebia Stem (木通) + Fresh Rehmannia Root (生地黄) → Dao Chi San (导赤散): clear Heart fire, promote urination; mouth sores and dark scanty urine
• Lophatherum Herb (竹叶) + Rush Pith (灯心草) + Plantain Herb (车前草) → clear Heart heat, promote urination; hot dysuria
• Lophatherum Herb (竹叶) + Honeysuckle Flower (金银花) + Forsythia Fruit (连翘) → clear heat toxin; early-stage wind-heat external attack
• Lophatherum Herb (竹叶) + Ophiopogon Tuber (麦冬) + Anemarrhena Rhizome (知母) → clear heat, nourish yin; afternoon fever and yin deficiency heat

Pharmacological Effects

Classic Description

• Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (《神农本草经》): ‘Governs counterflow cough with upward qi, overflow of sinews with spasm, malignant sores, and kills small parasites.’
• Ming Yi Bie Lu (《名医别录》): ‘Treats vexation heat, wind convulsion, throat impediment, and vomiting.’
• Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》): ‘Eliminates vexation heat, promotes urination, clears the Heart, stops thirst and eliminates vexation, cools blood and resolves toxin.’
• Ben Cao Bei Yao (《本草备要》): ‘Cools the Heart and soothes the Spleen, clears phlegm and stops thirst; treats wind-evil vexation heat in the upper jiao, counterflow cough and rapid breathing, and short dark urine.’