Xia Ku Cao (Self-Heal Spike) – Clear Liver Heat, Reduce Swelling & Support Thyroid Health
Naturally cool internal heat and promote healing with Xia Ku Cao, also known as Self-Heal Spike or Prunella vulgaris. A cornerstone in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xia Ku Cao is widely used to clear Liver fire, dissipate nodules, and reduce swelling, especially in conditions affecting the thyroid, eyes, or lymph nodes. It’s also a cooling, soothing herb often used to ease headaches, red eyes, sore throat, and tension linked to rising internal heat. Available in tea, powder, or extract form, it’s a powerful choice for restoring internal balance—gently and naturally.
✔ Clears Liver Fire | ✔ Supports Thyroid & Lymph Health | ✔ Reduces Swelling & Nodules | ✔ Cools Heat & Brightens the Eyes
Key Health Benefits
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Clears Liver heat (great for red eyes, headaches, dizziness)
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Reduces swelling and nodules (e.g., thyroid, lymph nodes)
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Supports thyroid and lymphatic health
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Offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
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Provides antimicrobial support
Why It Works (Scientific View)
Xia Ku Cao contains:
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Triterpenoids & flavonoids – natural compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects
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Phenolic acids – support immune defense and help reduce internal heat
These compounds help fight oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and support healthy tissue repair.
PubMed-Supported Research
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Thyroid Nodules: Enhanced outcomes in thyroid support when combined with conventional therapy
PMID: 34731129 -
Antioxidant Support: Protects against oxidative stress and free radicals
PMID: 38732062 -
Inflammation Relief: Reduces inflammatory response in the body
PMID: 35636653 -
Antimicrobial Activity: Helps inhibit bacterial and viral pathogens
PMID: 38472772
Common Name: Self-heal
Botanical Name: Prunella Vulgaris Spike
Pin Yin Name: Xia Ku Cao
Other Names: Prunella Spike, Self Heal Herb, Spica Prunellae Vulgaris, Common Selfheal plant, All-Heal, Blue Curls, Brownwort, Brunelle, Brunelle Commune, Brunelle Vulgaire, Brunette, Carpenter's Herb, Carpenter's Weed, Charbonnière, Heal-All, Heart of the Earth, Herbe au Charpentier, Hercules Woundwort, Hock-Heal, Petite Consoude, Prunela, Prunella, Prunella vulgaris, Prunelle, Prunelle Vulgaire, Sicklewort, Siclewort, Slough-Heal, Woundwort
Other Ingredients: None, nothing has been added to this product.
Package Size: 500 Grams ( 1.1 pounds)
Form: Cut / Sliced - sizes vary
Dosage: Follow doctors instructions on how to use this herb.
Origin: China
Brand: Plum Flower, species - authenticated herbs
Cautions: Do not use if pregnant or nursing. Long term usage may cause stomach irritation. Consult your doctor for best usage. Not suitable for people with weak digestion, cold symptoms, or Spleen deficiency
Summary Of Self-heal
- Harvested in the summer, when completely dry.
- Very light aroma if any at all, bland in taste.
- Xia Ku Cao (Self-Heal Spike) clears Liver heat
- Benefits swelling
- Supports thyroid and lymphatic health.
- A cooling TCM herb for internal balance.
Product Properties: Bitter, Cold, Acrid
TCM Perspective
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Nature: Bitter, Cold
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Meridians Entered: Liver, Gallbladder
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Functions:
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Clears Liver fire
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Brightens the eyes
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Dissipates nodules
Used traditionally for red, swollen eyes, thyroid conditions, and tension headaches caused by excess heat or Qi stagnation.
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Self-heal contains vitamins A, B, C, K, flavonoids, and rutin. Self-heal is packed with antioxidants which aids in boosting the immune system. Self-heal is a supportive herb that promotes in aiding the treatment of hypertension, vertigo, conjunctivitis and gout. Self-heal possesses hemostatic, demulcent, astringent, vulnerary, inflammatory, hypotensive, immunomodulator, modulator, diuretic and antiviral properties.
Self-heal like many mint family plants, is both cooling and diffusive. Self-heal also has significant mucilage making it a nice demulcent.
Self-heal tastes slightly bitter and slightly sweet. Self-heal can be enjoyed by eating the leaves and flowers in a salad blend or as a trail snack.
Self-heal makes a great tea and can also be extracted into alcohol as an extract or infused into oil for making a salve.
Self-heal Combines With:
Best paired with: Herbs like Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum) or Long Dan Cao for heat-clearing blends
+Agrimony
+Scutellaria Baicalensis
+Japanese Pagodatree
Check out our How to Use Bulk Herbs page to see how to use herbs correctly. Our web page is constantly expanding, as of today we have articles on:
- How to make salves, poultice, tinctures, teas, capsules, gargles, and foot bathes
- How to make a citrus facial splash
- Cayenne pepper: Caterpillar and aphid spray ( Natural insect repellent )
- Citrus potpourri basket
About Plum Flower Quality Herb Cut Bulk Herbs
Plum Flower is an established worldwide manufacturer of high-quality Chinese herbs, and innovative Chinese medicinal herbs and products. Plum Flower uses sulfur-free herbs and laboratory tests its products for contamination and heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, and pesticides.
Main Characteristics (Attributes) of Herbs
- Harvested at the proper level of maturity and correct time of the season to maximize potency.
- Free from Chlorine
- Manufactured without the use of sulphur
- Preservative Free
- Made at GMP internationally certified facilities (Good Manufacturing Practices) Quality control tests are done at the manufacturing site and at third party labs to confirm results
- Aluminum Phosphate free
- Packaged in an airtight sealed bag
- Pin Yin Names and Botanical Names are listed on the bag
- Certificate of Analysis are available upon request
- Conforms to Standards of Chinese Pharmacopeia
- No dyes, colors, or bleaching of the herbs
- We are a authorized direct distributor of Plum Flower Herbs.
- 500 gram bag size which equal anywhere from 4 to 6 cups of herbs
Chinese Traditional herbs should be regarded as a supplementary aspect to modern western healthcare, and not as a replacement. Chinese traditional herbs ( Teas ) emphasize harmony, and balance.
Why use Chinese Bulk Herbs?
Traditional Chinese Medicine curative herbal formulas have been developed, improved and perfected for over 5000 years.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is an ancient, holistic medical system used all over the world to treat a wide variety of health issues. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) works by helping to balance the bodies’ functions thus restoring health.
As soon as the Chinese people began to carve out a civilization in ancient China it developed a cultural heritage that has continued to the present day. TCM is the oldest and one of the safest, effective systems one can use to care for their body, it promotes health and helps to sustain longevity.
Chinese herbs have been with mankind for 5,000 years and will be with us in the years ahead – it is using nature’s bountiful gifts to have good health.
References:
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-130/self-heal
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/prunella-vulgaris#side-effects
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/self-heal/making-self-heal-tea.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/self-heal/making-self-heal-tea.htm
