Plantain Seed – 1 lb (454 g)

Plantain Seed, known in Chinese as 车前子 (Chēqiánzǐ) and scientifically as Semen Plantaginis, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Plantain Seed carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Plantain Seed helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Plantain Seed provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Plantain Seed has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Plantain Seed, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Cheqian Seed or Pig Ear Spike Seed. It is the mature seed of Plantago asiatica L. or Plantago depressa Willd., plants of the Plantaginaceae family. It is distributed throughout China. The seeds are harvested in summer and autumn when mature, by collecting the seed spikes, drying them in the sun, rubbing out the seeds, and removing impurities.

[Properties] Sweet in taste, slightly cold in nature. Enters the Kidney, Bladder, Liver, and Lung meridians.

[Actions] Promotes urination and unblocks painful urinary dysfunction; clears the liver and improves vision; clears the lungs and transforms phlegm.

[Applications]
1. Used for difficult urination, dribbling and painful urination, edema. Treats damp-heat pouring downward and heat accumulation in the bladder causing painful urinary dysfunction with short, red, and painful urination. Often combined with Mutong (Akebia), Zhizi (Gardenia), and Huashi (Talcum), as in the formula Bazheng San (Eight Herb Powder for Rectification). For painful bloody urinary dysfunction, it can be used alone or combined with Baimaogen (Imperata root) and Xiaojie (Small Thistle). For water-damp retention causing edema and difficult urination, it is combined with Zhuling (Polyporus), Fuling (Poria), and Guizhi (Cinnamon twig). For edema due to kidney deficiency, it is combined with Shudihuang (Prepared Rehmannia), Niuxi (Achyranthes), and Zexie (Alisma), as in the formula Jisheng Shenqi Wan.
2. Used for diarrhea. This herb promotes urination to consolidate stools, based on the principle of “promoting urination to solidify stools.” For diarrhea due to dampness, it is often combined with Baizhu (Atractylodes) and Fuling. For vomiting and diarrhea caused by summer dampness, it can be combined with Huoxiang (Agastache), Peilan (Eupatorium), Huangqin (Scutellaria), and Huashi.
3. Used for red, swollen, painful eyes due to wind-heat, photophobia, and excessive tearing. Often combined with Xiakucao (Prunella), Qingxiangzi (Celosia), and Juhua (Chrysanthemum). For liver and kidney yin deficiency causing dim vision or chronic cataracts, it is combined with Shengdi (Rehmannia root), Maidong (Ophiopogon), and Gouqizi (Lycium fruit). Plantago seed is also used for hypertension-related headache and dizziness when liver fire is excessive, having a blood pressure lowering effect, often combined with Xiakucao and Juhua.
4. Used for cough with lung heat and excessive phlegm, combined with Huangqin, Gualou (Trichosanthes fruit), and Dongguaren (Benincasa seed).

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 9–15 g, wrapped in a bag for decoction; or used in pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount, decocted water for washing or powdered for sprinkling.

[Cautions] Contraindicated in cases of kidney deficiency with spermatorrhea and absence of internal damp-heat.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: Plantago seed contains plantamajoside, Plantago polysaccharide A, Plantago seed water-soluble acids, succinic acid, adenine, choline, vitamin B1, fatty oils, proteins, resins, etc.
2. Pharmacological effects: Experimental studies show that oral decoctions of Plantago seed have diuretic effects in humans and animals; it strongly inhibits renal calcium oxalate crystal deposition, thus preventing kidney stone formation; it increases secretion in the trachea and bronchi, deepens and slows respiratory movements, thereby having expectorant and antitussive effects; it also has hepatoprotective, antihypertensive effects and restores tension to relaxed joint capsules.
3. Clinical reports:
1) Pediatric diarrhea: 30 g of Plantago seed wrapped in gauze, decocted with water to about 400 ml, slightly sweetened, taken once daily. Treated 69 cases with a cure rate of 91.3%. [Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 1987, (11):697]
2) Gastric ulcer, gastritis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding: 120 g rhubarb, 30 g Plantago seed, decocted to 200 ml, taken 4–6 times daily every 4–6 hours, first dose doubled. Treated 50 cases of upper GI bleeding with a total effective rate of 98%. [Hebei Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1988, (6):7]
3) Simple obesity: Plantago seed and lotus leaf decocted as tea, soaked in 250 ml boiling water for 10–15 minutes, taken once daily for 30 days per course, with 2-week breaks between courses. Treated 338 cases with significant weight loss effects. [Beijing Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1987, (2):30]
4) Functional constipation: Elderly patients treated with different doses of Plantago seed decoction (10–15 g, 20 cases; 30–49 g, 19 cases; 50–70 g, 21 cases). Effective cases were 2, 9, and 15 respectively; ineffective cases were 18, 12, and 4; effectiveness rates were 10%, 42.87%, and 78.9%. Results show higher doses are more effective without toxic side effects. [Chinese Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Information, 2003, 10(11):57]
5) Prevention of postoperative urinary retention: Experimental group of 23 cases received hot compress of Plantago seed applied to the navel starting 1 hour post-surgery once daily until urination occurred. Control group of 23 cases received no intervention. Results showed no urinary retention in the experimental group, significantly better than control. [Journal of Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, 2000, 22(2):329]
6) Fetal breech presentation: 9 g Plantago seed washed, dried, powdered, taken with boiling water once before bedtime. After 7 days, rechecked; if unsuccessful, repeated once. Observed 52 cases compared with 32 cases in knee-chest position group. Correction rates after one course were 82.7% (43/52) and 75% (24/32); after two courses 90.4% (47/52) and 81.3% (26/32), no significant difference between groups. [Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 19(3):186]
7) Acute conjunctivitis: 50 g Plantago seed, 10 g mint, decocted twice, 500–600 ml juice used to wash affected eyes once daily for 3–5 times. Treated 16 cases; cured in 9 cases within 3–5 days, 5 cases in 6–7 days, 1 case over 7 days. [Hebei Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2002, 24(6):424]