Capillary wormwood, the wormwood that grows back from the old
Yin Chen was first written “starting again from the old”: the old stems of this wormwood survive the winter, and the new shoots grow back from them in spring. Its Latin epithet, capillaris, comes from its leaves, divided into segments as narrow as hairs. A saying sets its whole calendar: “Yin Chen in the third month, Hao in the fourth; in the fifth and sixth, good for the fire”. So the young shoots are harvested in spring, rolled into tufts as soft as cotton wool, or the flowering plant in autumn. Its benchmark origin is Shaanxi, and its young shoots are still eaten as a seasonal vegetable in several regions of China.
Clearing Heat, letting Dampness flow out
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, capillary wormwood is bitter, pungent and slightly cool. Bitterness dries Dampness and makes things descend, pungency opens and disperses what has knotted: a rare combination, as most plants that dry Dampness do not make it circulate. It enters the four meridians that share the Middle Burner: the Spleen and Stomach, the Liver and Gallbladder. When Dampness and Heat become entangled in the Middle in a heavy, stagnant state, it clears and dries at the same time, and guides the whole downwards, through the waterways. Its coolness stays light: it clears without chilling the Middle.
Freeing the Liver and Gallbladder
Tradition also credits it with opening what is closed in the Liver and Gallbladder: once the Heat is dispelled, the blockage opens and the way becomes free again. Its versatility is remarkable: depending on the plants that accompany it, cool or hot, it serves opposite situations, and it is said that its assistants decide the direction. It is thus found combined with Wu Ling San when Dampness weighs more than Heat. Modern research is looking in particular at scoparone and chlorogenic acid.
Key benefits
Heat & Dampness cleared
Bitter and slightly cool, capillary wormwood clears Damp-Heat from the Middle Burner and guides it downwards.
Liver & Gallbladder freed
According to Chinese tradition, it opens what is closed in the Liver and Gallbladder, and supports the natural functions of the liver.
Light digestion & a lighter Middle
Through the Spleen and Stomach, it lightens a Middle weighed down by Dampness and contributes to healthy digestion.
