Witnessed by: TCM
Capillaris (Artemisia capillaris), of the Asteraceae family. Aromatic perennial with finely divided thread-like young leaves; native range: sandy riverbanks and dry slopes across China. Globally recognized as yin chen hao (茵陈蒿) in Chinese, and capillary wormwood, virgate wormwood in English. The part used is young shoots and leaves. Soft silvery filigreed foliage, aromatic and distinctly bitter, cooling on the palate.
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.
CAPILLARIS
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- capillaris
- Scientific name
- Artemisia capillaris Thunb.
- Family
- Asteraceae
Form
- Part used
- young shoots and leaves
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter
Temperature
- TCM
- cool
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Spleen · Stomach · Liver · Gallbladder
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- clears damp-heat, promotes urination, resolves jaundice, benefits the Gallbladder
Cautions
- Contraindications
- not appropriate for jaundice from cold-damp or blood deficiency
- Toxicity
- non-toxic in normal dose
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