Herbs annual. Stems 30-100 cm tall, much branched, sparsely gray pubescent. Leaves 3-fid, unequal; petiole 2-10 mm; leaf blade 1-3.5 × 1.5-2.5 cm, adaxially dark puberulent, abaxially gray-green, pubescent especially on veins and margin, glandular, base cuneate-decurrent into petiole, lobes lanceolate, 1.5-4 mm wide, with middle lobe largest, margin entire, apex acute. Spikes terminal, 2-13 cm, interrupted, of numerous verticillasters; bracts leaflike, reduced upward, as long as flowers; bracteoles linear, minute; calyx tubular-campanulate, ca. 3 × 1.2 mm, gray pilose, 15-veined; teeth triangular-lanceolate to lanceolate, ca. 0.7 mm, apex acuminate, posterior teeth longer; corolla violet, ca. 4.5 mm, pilose. Nutlets brown, triquetrous, oblong, ca. 1.5 × 0.7 mm, dotted.

Antipyretic and diaphoretic.

Flora of China
Plants For A Future

D-limonene, pulegone (plant); schizonepetoside A, schizonepetoside B (flower)

The decoction of aerial parts are used to alleviate skin conditions such as boils and itchiness. It induces sweating and is used in the treatment of fevers and chills, headache, lack of perspiration, measles, bloodshot eyes, and sore throat. It is also useful in the treatment of haemorrhages, especially post-natal bleeding and excessive menstruation, colds, and nettle rash.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 577, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.