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Photo of Garden Spurge

Garden Spurge

大飞扬草 · Dà Fēi Yáng Cǎo

Soothes itchy rashes and supports milk flow

Properties

NeutralNeutral botanicalAcrid, Sour

What it does

Garden spurge soothes inflamed itchy skin like eczema and foot fungus, and helps nursing mothers with low milk supply. In TCM, it clears heat-toxin and percolates dampness, two patterns behind weeping skin rashes and gut infections. It also calms acute enteritis and dysentery. Slightly toxic, so doses stay short and topical use is preferred.

How to take it

Topical

Decoct 6–9g in 2 cups water for 20 minutes. Use as topical wash for itchy skin, or drink 1 cup daily for short-term gut or lactation support.

Try a cooled topical wash for itchy skin patches

Safety

  • Slightly toxic from milky sap. Wear gloves when handling raw plant
  • Test small skin patch before broader topical use
  • Skip during pregnancy
  • Strong-acting on the gut. Avoid with weak digestion or chronic loose stools
  • Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication

Where it comes from

Garden spurge (Euphorbia hirta) is a small ground-covering weed common across tropical and subtropical regions. In TCM, it appears in southern Chinese pharmacopoeia for skin and gut conditions. The plant's milky white sap, like other euphorbias, can irritate skin. In Filipino and Southeast Asian folk medicine, the same plant is brewed as 'tawa-tawa' tea for dengue fever. One clinical trial explores its anti-inflammatory effects.