A hardy perennial herb growing to 5 feet tall with a spread of 1 to 3 feet. Leaves are opposite, divided with toothed margins; flowers white in corymbs appear in late summer.

Anticephalgic, aphrodisiac, anodyne, diaphoretic, nerve sedative, digestive and stimulant tonic (whole plant); poison antidote (root decoction).

Earthnotes Herb Library

The whole plant has been used to treat loss of appetite, heat stroke with headache, fever, halitosis, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and feverish summer colds. In Chinese medicine it is considered a cooling and drying herb, acting mainly on stomach and spleen and which has been used for bronchitis and dysentery. The plant is soaked in oil and applied to hair for dandruff. Root has sometimes been eaten as a restorative to women after childbirth. A decoction of the root has been used for dysmenorrhea.

Should not be used when pregnant.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 298, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.