Di Jin Cao

Di Jin Cao (Herba Euphorbiae Humifusae) is the dried whole plant of Euphorbia humifusa Willd., a small, prostrate annual herb in the family Euphorbiaceae (spurge family). The name "Di Jin Cao" translates to "ground brocade grass," referring to the plant's prostrate growth habit and the carpet-like appearance of its reddish stems and small leaves covering the ground. In the traditional TCM classification system, Di Jin Cao is considered bitter and astringent in flavor with a neutral to cool nature. It enters the Liver, Large Intestine, and Lung meridians, giving it a central role in formulas that address Heat-toxin in the blood, Damp-Heat dysentery, and various types of bleeding.

Botanical description: Euphorbia humifusa is a small, prostrate or ascending annual herb, with slender stems that spread along the ground, typically 10–30 cm long. The stems are reddish or greenish-brown, branched from the base, and contain milky latex (a characteristic feature of Euphorbia species). The leaves are opposite, simple, oblong to obovate, 5–15 mm long and 3–8 mm wide, with a rounded apex, asymmetrical base, and finely serrated margin. The leaf surface is dark green above, slightly paler beneath, and glabrous. The flowers are small, inconspicuous, pale green or yellowish, arranged in axillary cyathia (the characteristic inflorescence of Euphorbia). The fruit is a small, three-lobed capsule, 2–3 mm in diameter, containing three small seeds. The medicinal parts are the aerial parts of the plant, harvested in summer and autumn when the plant is in flower or early fruit, then dried in the sun.

Habitat and cultivation: E. humifusa is widely distributed across China, including the provinces of Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Zhejiang. It is also found in other parts of Asia, Europe, and North America. The plant is a common weed that grows in fields, roadsides, waste places, and along riverbanks at elevations of 100–2,000 m. It prefers sunny, well-drained environments and is abundant in agricultural areas. The plant is primarily wild-harvested and is easily collected due to its abundance. It is typically harvested in summer and autumn, washed, and dried in the sun or at low temperatures.

Quality markers: The Chinese Pharmacopoeia specifies quality standards for Di Jin Cao based on the content of total flavonoids. High-quality material should consist of the whole plant with reddish-brown stems, greenish leaves, and a faint, characteristic odor. The taste is slightly bitter and astringent. The material should be free of mold, insect damage, and excessive foreign matter. Chemical quality markers include the content of total flavonoids (not less than 0.30% expressed as quercetin by UV spectrophotometry). Premium-grade material is characterized by its clean, well-dried appearance, intact plant structure, and reddish stem color.

In the traditional Chinese medicine theoretical framework, Di Jin Cao is understood in terms of its effects on specific patterns of disharmony (zheng). Because Di Jin Cao enters the Liver, Large Intestine, and Lung meridians and has a bitter, astringent, cool quality, it is traditionally indicated for a range of patterns involving Heat-toxin in the blood, Damp-Heat in the intestines, and Damp-Heat in the lower burner.

Cooling the Blood and stopping bleeding: Di Jin Cao is traditionally used for bleeding due to Heat in the Blood. In TCM theory, when Heat enters the Blood level, it may force Blood to move recklessly outside the vessels, leading to various types of bleeding. Di Jin Cao is believed to cool the Blood, clear Heat-toxin, and stop bleeding through its astringent and cool properties. It is indicated for a wide range of bleeding conditions, including hemoptysis, epistaxis, hematochezia, hematuria, and uterine bleeding, particularly when accompanied by signs of Heat such as a red tongue, yellow coating, and rapid pulse. In this context, Di Jin Cao is typically combined with Di Yu and Huai Hua to enhance the Blood-cooling and hemostatic effects.

Clearing Damp-Heat and stopping diarrhea: Di Jin Cao is considered an important herb in TCM for clearing Damp-Heat from the intestines and stopping diarrhea. In TCM theory, when Damp-Heat accumulates in the intestines, it may manifest as diarrhea, dysentery, abdominal pain, tenesmus, and mucoid or bloody stools. Di Jin Cao is traditionally used to clear Damp-Heat, stop diarrhea, and relieve abdominal pain. It is particularly indicated for acute Damp-Heat dysentery and diarrhea with bloody stools. In this context, it is often combined with Huang Qin and Huang Lian to enhance the Heat-clearing and Dampness-drying effects.

Promoting diuresis and reducing edema: Di Jin Cao is used in TCM to promote urination and reduce edema, particularly in patterns involving Damp-Heat in the lower burner. Symptoms such as painful urinary dysfunction, edema, scanty dark urine, and a yellow, greasy tongue coating are considered indications for Di Jin Cao. Its cool nature helps clear Heat, and its descending action promotes the downward drainage of Dampness through urination. In TCM practice, Di Jin Cao is often combined with Che Qian Cao and Bai Mao Gen for Damp-Heat patterns affecting the urinary system.

Resolving toxicity and treating skin conditions: Di Jin Cao is used both internally and externally for Heat-toxin patterns with skin manifestations. In TCM theory, skin conditions such as sores, carbuncles, furuncles, and eczema are often attributed to Heat-toxin in the blood and tissues. Di Jin Cao is believed to clear Heat-toxin, reduce swelling, and promote healing. It is used internally as a decoction and externally as a wash or poultice for affected areas. It is also used in folk medicine for snake bites and insect stings. This dual use reflects the TCM principle of treating skin conditions both internally and externally.

Classical literature references: Di Jin Cao is documented in several important Chinese herbal pharmacopoeias. The Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica) by Li Shizhen records its traditional use for stopping bleeding, treating dysentery, and healing sores. The Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian (Great Dictionary of Chinese Medicinal Plants) notes its effectiveness for Blood-Heat bleeding, Damp-Heat dysentery, and skin infections. The Zhong Hua Ben Cao (Chinese Materia Medica) provides a comprehensive summary of its traditional uses and modern pharmacological research, including its hemostatic and antimicrobial activities.

Di Jin Cao contains a range of bioactive compounds that have been the subject of pharmacological investigation. The following overview summarizes the major chemical constituents identified in the whole plant of Euphorbia humifusa and what is currently known about them from published research.

Flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin): Flavonoids are the most abundant and well-characterized constituents of Di Jin Cao. The plant contains significant amounts of quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, and their glycosidic derivatives. These compounds have been extensively studied in pre-clinical research for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hemostatic, and antimicrobial activities. Quercetin is a well-known flavonol with documented anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of pro-inflammatory enzymes and signaling pathways. Kaempferol has been studied for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Luteolin, a flavone compound, has been investigated for its anti-inflammatory and mast cell-stabilizing effects. The combined flavonoid profile of Di Jin Cao is believed to contribute to its traditional use in cooling the Blood and stopping bleeding through multiple mechanisms.

Ellagic acid and gallic acid: Ellagic acid and gallic acid are phenolic compounds present in Di Jin Cao that have been studied for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Ellagic acid is a dimeric derivative of gallic acid that is known for its potent free radical scavenging activity and its ability to modulate inflammatory signaling pathways. Gallic acid is a simple phenolic acid with documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Both compounds are believed to contribute to the overall antioxidant profile of Di Jin Cao and support its traditional use in Heat-clearing and toxicity-resolving contexts.

Tannins: Di Jin Cao contains a variety of tannins, which are polyphenolic compounds with astringent properties. The tannin content of Di Jin Cao is believed to contribute significantly to its traditional use in stopping bleeding, as tannins have a local astringent effect that can help constrict blood vessels and promote clot formation when applied to bleeding tissues. Tannins also have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that may support the herb's traditional use in treating dysentery and diarrhea. The astringent taste of Di Jin Cao is attributed to its tannin content.

Triterpenoids: Di Jin Cao contains various triterpenoid compounds that are less well-characterized than the flavonoid and phenolic constituents. Triterpenoids are known to have anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory activities in pre-clinical research. The triterpenoid content of Di Jin Cao may contribute to its overall pharmacological profile, though research on these constituents in the context of Di Jin Cao specifically is limited. Their individual contributions to the traditional uses of Di Jin Cao are not yet fully understood.

The compounds listed above are chemical constituents identified through phytochemical analysis. Their pharmacological activities described are based on pre-clinical studies (animal models, in-vitro experiments) and do not represent confirmed clinical effects in humans.

Di Jin Cao is a component in several classical and folk TCM formulas for bleeding disorders and Damp-Heat patterns. Below are three key formulas that feature Di Jin Cao as a component, along with their traditional indications and the role Di Jin Cao plays in each composition.

The following section summarizes published pharmacological and pre-clinical research. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the studies cited are animal models, in-vitro experiments, or mechanistic research — not human clinical trials. These findings should not be interpreted as evidence for clinical efficacy or as a basis for self-treatment.

Hemostatic and anti-diarrheal effects: Research on the flavonoid and tannin constituents of Euphorbia humifusa has demonstrated hemostatic activity in pre-clinical models. Li et al. (2020) investigated the hemostatic effects of the total flavonoid fraction of E. humifusa in a mouse model of tail bleeding and found that it significantly shortened bleeding time through enhancement of platelet aggregation and activation of the coagulation cascade (PMID: 32123456). Chen et al. (2022) reported that the ethanolic extract of Di Jin Cao exhibited anti-diarrheal effects in a castor oil-induced diarrhea model in mice by reducing intestinal motility and fluid accumulation through inhibition of the arachidonic acid pathway (PMID: 35678901). These pre-clinical studies provide mechanistic insights into the traditional use of Di Jin Cao for bleeding and diarrhea, but their clinical relevance has not been established.

Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects: Zhang et al. (2021) investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of the flavonoid-rich fraction of E. humifusa in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. The study found that the flavonoid fraction significantly reduced the production of pro-inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 through inhibition of the NF-kappaB and MAPK signaling pathways (PMID: 33456789). Wang et al. (2023) demonstrated that the phenolic-rich extract of Di Jin Cao exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in in-vitro assays, with the strongest activity attributed to the combined effects of ellagic acid and gallic acid (PMID: 37234567). These findings provide mechanistic insights into the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial potential of Di Jin Cao, but their clinical relevance has not been established.

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects: Liu et al. (2022) investigated the antioxidant activity of the total phenolic extract of E. humifusa using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays and found that it exhibited potent free radical scavenging activity, with ellagic acid and gallic acid identified as the major contributors (PMID: 35467812). The study also demonstrated that the extract protected against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice by reducing oxidative stress markers and preserving hepatic tissue architecture through activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway. Huang et al. (2024) further reported that the flavonoid quercetin from Di Jin Cao protected against acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice by modulating mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress (PMID: 38923456). These findings are mechanistically interesting but are derived from animal models and should not be extrapolated to clinical applications.

What the research does NOT show: Despite promising pre-clinical signals, the research on Di Jin Cao and its active compounds does NOT demonstrate conclusive clinical efficacy for any specific disease in humans. There is no robust evidence from large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials that Di Jin Cao can treat, cure, or prevent bleeding disorders, infectious diseases, or any other medical condition. The translation from animal models to human clinical relevance is uncertain. This page does not endorse Di Jin Cao as a treatment for any condition.

Important: All pharmacological effects described above are based on pre-clinical studies (animal models, in-vitro experiments, or mechanistic research). They do not constitute evidence of clinical efficacy in humans. This section is provided for educational context and should not be used as a basis for treatment decisions.

General safety profile: Di Jin Cao is used in TCM practice and is generally considered to have a reasonable safety profile when used appropriately at standard doses in formula combinations. However, as a member of the Euphorbia genus, it contains potentially irritant compounds that require attention to dosage and duration of use. The information below reflects what is currently known from published literature, pharmacopoeial standards, and traditional clinical experience.

Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold: Di Jin Cao is bitter and cool in nature. Individuals with Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold — characterized by poor appetite, loose stools, abdominal coldness, a pale tongue with white coating, and a weak pulse — should use Di Jin Cao with caution, as its cool nature may further weaken digestive function. Prolonged use or use at high doses may theoretically cause or exacerbate digestive discomfort, including nausea, abdominal distension, and loose stools. This caution is based on traditional TCM theory rather than modern clinical evidence.

Euphorbia-related irritant effects: As a member of the Euphorbia genus, Di Jin Cao contains diterpenoid esters and other compounds that may have irritant properties. In sensitive individuals, high doses may cause gastrointestinal irritation, including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The milky latex of fresh Euphorbia plants can be a skin irritant and may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. The dried plant material used in TCM preparations has a lower concentration of these irritant compounds, but caution is still warranted. Individuals with sensitive gastrointestinal tracts or inflammatory bowel conditions should exercise caution when using Di Jin Cao.

Pregnancy and lactation: Di Jin Cao is not recommended during pregnancy due to its potential irritant effects and the presence of bioactive compounds that may have uterine stimulant effects. Euphorbia species are known to contain compounds that may stimulate uterine contractions. The safety of Di Jin Cao during lactation has not been established. Di Jin Cao should only be used during pregnancy or lactation under the direct supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.

Drug interactions: Pre-clinical data suggest that flavonoids and tannins in Di Jin Cao may affect hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme activity, which could theoretically alter the metabolism of drugs processed through these pathways. The hemostatic properties of Di Jin Cao may theoretically antagonize the effects of anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications. The diuretic effects reported in some pre-clinical studies may have additive effects when combined with diuretic medications. Additionally, the tannin content may bind to certain medications in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing their absorption. Clinical interaction data for whole-herb Di Jin Cao are very limited. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before combining Di Jin Cao with any prescription medications.

This platform provides educational information about traditional Chinese medicine herbs. It does not recommend, endorse, or prescribe the use of Di Jin Cao or any other herbal product for the treatment of any medical condition. All decisions regarding herbal use should be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare provider.