Rush Pith – 1 lb (454 g)

Rush Pith, known in Chinese as 灯心草 (Dēngxīncǎo) and scientifically as Medulla Junci, 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 Rush Pith carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Rush Pith 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, Rush Pith provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Rush Pith 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 Rush Pith, 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 Tiger Whisker Grass, Red Whisker, Lampwick, and Lamp Grass. It is the pith of the stem of Juncus effusus L., a plant of the Juncaceae family. It is produced in most regions across China. The stems are harvested in summer and autumn, the bark is split longitudinally, the pith is removed, sun-dried, and bundled.

[Properties] Taste: sweet and bland; nature: slightly cold. Enters the Heart, Lung, and Small Intestine meridians.

[Actions] Promotes urination and unblocks strangury; clears the Heart and relieves vexation.

[Applications]
1. Used for damp-heat strangury syndrome, edema, difficult urination, and jaundice. For damp-heat accumulation in the lower burner with dribbling, painful urination, it is often combined with Talcum (Hua Shi), Plantain Seed (Che Qian Zi), and Dianthus (Qu Mai). For edema and difficult urination, it is combined with Poria (Fu Ling), Polyporus (Zhu Ling), and Alisma (Ze Xie). For damp-heat jaundice, it is combined with Artemisia capillaris (Yin Chen) and Gardenia (Zhi Zi).
2. Used for vexation with insomnia, mouth and tongue ulcers, and infant night crying; it can be decocted alone or combined with Poria Spirit (Fu Shen) and Cinnabar (Zhu Sha).
Additionally, the ash of this herb blown into the throat can treat throat swelling and pain; when combined with Borneol (Bing Pian), the effect is enhanced.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 1–3 g; or incorporated into pills or powders. For vexation and insomnia, mixed with Cinnabar (Zhu Sha). External use: appropriate amount, calcined and ground into powder for sprinkling or blowing into the throat.

[Cautions] Contraindicated in cases of lower burner deficiency cold and urinary incontinence.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: The pith of Juncus effusus stems contains juncusol and various phenolic derivatives. The whole plant contains volatile oils, multiple amino acids, arabinogalactan, xylan, methylpentose sugars, luteolin, luteolin-7-glucoside, β-sitosterol, and β-sitosterol glucoside.
2. Pharmacological effects: Medulla Junci exhibits antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Tests with acetone, ethanol, and ethyl acetate extracts showed that the ethyl acetate extract had the strongest antioxidant and antimicrobial effects.
3. Clinical reports:
1) Chronic nephritis: Fresh whole Medulla Junci 60 g and tofu 300 g decocted together and taken as a single dose daily. Among 30 cases treated, 16 were cured, 8 markedly effective, 2 improved, and 4 ineffective. [Fuzhou Medical Journal, 1983, (3):30]
2) Infant night crying: Dosage for newborns 3 g, 1–6 months 6 g, 6 months to 1 year 9 g; fresh herb dosage doubled. One dose daily, decocted, strained, taken as tea three times daily. A small amount of white or rock sugar may be added; brown sugar is not recommended. Three doses constitute one treatment course. Among 38 cases of night crying caused by heart heat and fright, 21 cured after one course, 14 cured after two to six courses, 3 ineffective. [Primary Medical Journal, 1983, (3):40]
3) Gastrointestinal-type cold: After routine disinfection of chest and back reaction points, pressure applied with needle handle to create indentation, then Medulla Junci soaked in oil is ignited and quickly applied to blood vessels, leaving millet-sized water-draining scars. Among 150 cases treated, 147 cured, 3 ineffective. [Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Injection, 1988, 29(6):51]
4) Oral ulcers: Dry Medulla Junci placed in a small iron pan and heated until the herb inside is yellow-burnt or nearly burnt, then ground into powder and applied to lesions. Among 62 cases treated, all cured; 58 cured after one application, 4 after two. [Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1985, (3):34]