Alisma
泽泻 · Zé Xiè
Drains excess fluid and eases heavy water bloat
What it does
Alisma helps your body let go of water it's been holding onto: puffy ankles, heavy lower body, painful urination, and the dizziness that comes with fluid pooling in the head. In TCM, it drains damp and clears heat from the kidney and bladder, the systems that govern water metabolism. Modern research has tracked its effect on cholesterol alongside its long-standing role in fluid balance.
How to take it
Decoct 6–10g of dried alisma in water for 25 minutes. Drink 1 cup, 1–2x daily. Usually combined with poria and other fluid-balancing herbs.
Look for it in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Wu Ling San for water retention
Safety
- Skip in yin-deficient patterns with no signs of fluid retention. It can dry you out further
- Long-term high doses have been linked to kidney concern in animal studies
- Skip during pregnancy
- May lower blood pressure or sugar. Talk to your doctor if you take related medication
- Talk to your doctor before starting medicinal use, especially if you take medication
Where it comes from
Alisma (Alisma orientale, zé xiè) grows in shallow ponds and rice paddies across East Asia. The starchy tuber is harvested in autumn, sliced, and dried. Classical TCM uses it in formulas for water retention, urinary issues, and the dizzy spells that come with fluid imbalance. It's one of the six herbs in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, the most-prescribed kidney yin tonic. Modern Japanese kampo uses it for the same patterns under the name takusha.