Witnessed by: TCM
Dayflower (Commelina communis), of the Commelinaceae family. Sprawling succulent annual of wet shady ground; native range: moist fields and roadsides across East Asia. Globally recognized as ya zhi cao (鴨跖草) in Chinese, and Asiatic dayflower, duck-foot grass in English. The part used is aerial parts. Juicy jointed stems and clasping leaves, bland and faintly sweet, cool and watery.
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.
DAYFLOWER
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- dayflower
- Scientific name
- Commelina communis L.
- Family
- Commelinaceae
Form
- Part used
- aerial parts
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- sweet · bland
Temperature
- TCM
- cold
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Lung · Stomach · Small Intestine
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- clears heat and resolves toxicity, drains heat and promotes urination, reduces swelling
Cautions
- Contraindications
- contraindicated in Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold
- Toxicity
- no significant toxicity at usual doses
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