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Photo of Sun Spurge

Sun Spurge

泽漆 · Zé Qī

Practitioner herb for severe edema and masses

Properties

CoolingCooling botanicalPungent, Bitter

What it does

Euphorbia helioscopia drains water and softens hard masses. It's used for severe edema, accumulated phlegm in the chest, and hard masses like scrofula or tuberculous fistula. In TCM, the bitter cold profile drains water through urine and softens tissue. Toxic, so doses are low and short-term. Modern Chinese hospitals use processed extracts for tuberculous lymph node disease.

How to take it

Drink

Used only in practitioner formulas at 3–9g of processed material, decocted with other herbs. Never handle raw plant with bare hands due to skin irritation.

Avoid self-use. Modern diuretics are safer for most edema

Safety

  • Toxic. Skin and mucous membrane irritation from raw plant sap
  • Strictly avoid during pregnancy
  • Stay within practitioner-prescribed doses. Short-term only
  • Modern medicine has safer diuretics for most edema
  • Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication

Where it comes from

Euphorbia helioscopia, the 'sun spurge' or Zé Qī, is one of several toxic euphorbias used in TCM water-draining formulas. The whole plant's milky sap is irritating and contains diterpene esters that can damage skin and mucous membranes on contact. Despite that, processed extracts have a documented place in Chinese medicine for severe edema and tuberculous lymph node disease. Modern TCM uses it sparingly, given the availability of safer alternatives.