Lysimachia, “the gold coin herb”
Jin Qian Cao, the Chinese name for lysimachia herb, reads “the gold coin herb”: its round, flat leaves are the size of an old coin. Its other names describe it differently: Guo Lu Huang, “the yellow that crosses the path”, for its creeping stems and small yellow flowers, or “the herb where the immortals sit face to face”, for its leaves set opposite each other in pairs. This creeping perennial (Lysimachia christinae) forms dense carpets on the damp banks and slopes of central and southern China; its reference terroir is Sichuan, where it is called “the great coin herb of Sichuan”. A late arrival in the pharmacopoeia, it appears only in the materia medica of the Qing.
Accompanying the Liver and Gallbladder
In traditional Chinese medicine, Jin Qian Cao is cool, sweet, salty and bland in flavour. Each flavour makes a gesture: blandness pushes water downwards, sweetness softens and tempers. Its coolness allows it to clear the Heat that accompanies Dampness. Its four meridians draw two axes, the Liver and Gallbladder on one side, the Kidney and Bladder on the other, and few plants work on both together. On the Liver side, tradition readily pairs it with capillary wormwood (Yin Chen): both clear Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder.
Helping water flow downwards
All the actions tradition attributes to it go in the same direction, downwards. According to TCM, Dampness mixed with Heat lingers in the Liver and Gallbladder or descends towards the Bladder; the plant’s bland flavour sets it moving again, and its cool nature tempers the Heat. It is often decocted on its own in a large volume of water and drunk like a herbal tea throughout the day. Because it is cool and moves things decisively, tradition adds dried ginger when digestion is weak and use is prolonged, to offset its coolness.
Key benefits
Liver & Gallbladder accompanied
According to Chinese tradition, it clears the Damp-Heat lodged in the Liver and Gallbladder, and supports liver function.
Coolness & clarified Dampness
Cool and bland, it clears Heat-Dampness and carries it downwards, while its sweetness tempers the movement.
Water in motion & urinary comfort
Bland and turned downwards, it accompanies water towards the Bladder and supports urinary comfort, according to Chinese tradition.
