Witnessed by: TCM
Chinese leek (Allium tuberosum), of the Amaryllidaceae family. Clumping perennial with flat grassy leaves and white star flowers; native range: widely cultivated across China and East Asia. Globally recognized as jiu zi (韭子), the seed; jiu cai (韭菜), the herb in Chinese, and garlic chives, Chinese chives in English. The part used is seed. Small flat black seeds, pungent and warming with a faint garlic scent.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
CHINESE LEEK
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Chinese leek
- Scientific name
- Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Spreng.
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
Form
- Part used
- seed
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- pungent · sweet
Temperature
- TCM
- warm
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Liver · Kidney
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- warms and tonifies the Kidney yang, secures the essence, warms the Liver, assists the yang
Cautions
- Contraindications
- contraindicated in yin deficiency with heat
- Toxicity
- well tolerated within dose
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