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Photo of Cowherb Seed

Cowherb Seed

王不留行 · Wáng Bù Liú Xíng

Eases milk obstruction and restarts stalled cycles

Properties

NeutralNeutral botanicalBitter

What it does

Cowherb seed has a focused gynecological use: it unblocks stuck milk in nursing mothers and restarts stalled menstrual cycles. In TCM, both come from stagnant blood in the chest and pelvis, and cowherb gets it moving. It's also used for mastitis when milk has accumulated. Often paired with vaccaria stem in lactation formulas.

How to take it

Drink

Decoct 5–10g of cowherb seed in water for 25 minutes. Drink 1 cup, 1–2x daily for 3–7 days during lactation difficulty or stalled menses.

Try cowherb tea as a 3-day support during early breastfeeding stalls

Safety

  • Skip during pregnancy. Strong blood-moving action
  • Generally well tolerated postpartum
  • Safe to combine with most modern lactation supports
  • May cause mild stomach upset if taken on empty stomach
  • Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication

Where it comes from

Cowherb (Vaccaria segetalis) grows wild as a weed in cereal fields across Eurasia. The Chinese name Wáng Bù Liú Xíng translates to 'the king does not stay,' a poetic phrase about something that refuses to be detained. In TCM, the seeds keep milk and blood moving when they get stuck. The seeds are also used in traditional Chinese ear-acupuncture beads. One review covers postpartum lactation support.