Jue Ming Zi: The TCM Herb for Eye Health and Digestive Relief
- Health Lab
- Jun 9
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 19
Jue Ming Zi, also known as Cassia seeds or Semen Cassiae, is a popular herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) known for its ability to support eye health and relieve constipation. Its name, meaning "clear vision," reflects its traditional use in treating eye conditions.
Jue Ming Zi was first recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica) as a top-grade herb, praised for treating blindness, redness, and eye pain while enhancing vitality.
Ancient texts like the Mingyi Bielu noted its role in soothing liver heat and easing constipation, while the Yaoxing Lun emphasized its ability to calm liver wind and improve vision. In the Ming Dynasty, Li Shizhen’s Compendium of Materia Medica detailed its use for liver-related eye issues, redness, and bowel regulation, solidifying its importance in TCM.
Properties of Jue Ming Zi
Nature and Channels
Taste: Bitter, sweet, salty
Nature: Slightly cold
Channels: Liver, Large Intestine
Main Benefits
Clears liver heat and improves vision
Moistens intestines and promotes bowel movements
Dosage
Internal use: 9–15 grams, boiled in decoctions or roasted.
Growing Regions
Found in southern China, including Guangxi, Anhui, Sichuan, and Zhejiang.
Identification
Shape: Diamond-shaped or short cylindrical, 3–7 mm long, 2–4 mm wide, with slanted ends.
Color: Smooth, glossy yellowish-green, brownish, or yellowish-brown.
Texture: Hard, difficult to break, with a pale brown indentation (hilum) at one end.
Scent and Taste: Mild scent, slightly bitter taste.
Clinical Uses of Jue Ming Zi
Jue Ming Zi is used in TCM to treat various conditions:
Liver Heat with Red, Painful Eyes: It relieves eye redness, swelling, pain, light sensitivity, or blurry vision.
Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency: It helps with poor vision, dry eyes, dizziness, or tinnitus.
Hypertension: It eases headaches, dizziness, vertigo, and ringing in the ears caused by high blood pressure.
Chronic Constipation: It addresses hard, dry stools and infrequent bowel movements.
Specific Benefits
Clearing Liver Heat and Improving Vision: Jue Ming Zi cools liver fire, relieving eye discomfort and enhancing clarity.
Moistening Intestines: It promotes bowel movements by lubricating the intestines, aiding constipation relief.
Lowering Blood Pressure: It supports blood pressure management, reducing related symptoms.
Jue Ming Zi in TCM Formulas
Jue Ming Zi is often combined with other herbs in TCM formulas to enhance its effects. Here are some examples:
Chrysanthemum and Cassia Seed Tea: Combines Jue Ming Zi with Chrysanthemum to clear liver heat and improve vision, used for red, painful eyes or blurry vision.
Qi Ju Di Huang Wan (Lycium, Chrysanthemum, and Rehmannia Pill): Includes Jue Ming Zi with Goji Berry, Chrysanthemum, Rehmannia, Cornus, Yam, Poria, Moutan, and Alisma to nourish liver and kidney yin, treating poor vision or dry eyes.
Ma Zi Ren Wan (Hemp Seed Pill): Pairs Jue Ming Zi with Hemp Seed, Apricot Kernel, Magnolia Bark, Citrus Aurantium, Rhubarb, and Peony to moisten intestines and relieve constipation.
Comparison with Similar Herbs
Jue Ming Zi shares effects with other TCM herbs but has unique strengths:
Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua): Clears liver heat and improves vision but is better for wind-heat colds and headaches, with weaker bowel-regulating effects.
Goji Berry (Gou Qi Zi): Nourishes liver and kidney yin to improve vision but focuses on weakness and poor vision due to deficiency, with less liver-clearing action.
Senna Leaf (Fan Xie Ye): Promotes bowel movements but is stronger and may cause abdominal pain, unsuitable for long-term use.
Jue Ming Zi is notable for its balanced eye health and digestive benefits with a gentle nature.
Modern Applications and Research
Modern research highlights Jue Ming Zi’s benefits:
Cholesterol Reduction: Its extracts lower serum cholesterol and triglycerides.
Blood Pressure Reduction: It helps manage hypertension.
Antibacterial Effects: It shows antibacterial activity in lab studies.
Antioxidant Effects: It neutralizes free radicals, protecting cells.
Clinically, Jue Ming Zi is used for high cholesterol, hypertension, and constipation. It’s also popular in health teas and pillows for its soothing properties.
How to Use Jue Ming Zi Safely
Precautions
Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with Cold: Use cautiously, as its cold nature may harm digestion.
Diarrhea: Avoid use, as it may worsen loose stools.
Pregnant Women: Use cautiously due to its laxative effects.
Long-Term Use: Avoid excessive use to prevent diarrhea or other side effects.
Usage Tips
Raw Jue Ming Zi is stronger for constipation; roasted seeds are milder. Consult a TCM practitioner for proper dosage and suitability.
Conclusion
Jue Ming Zi is a versatile TCM herb known for clearing liver heat, improving vision, and relieving constipation. It effectively treats eye issues, hypertension, and digestive problems, with modern research supporting its cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure-regulating effects. To ensure safe and effective use, consult a TCM practitioner for guidance on dosage and preparation.
Chinese Name | 決明子 |
Chinese Pinyin | Juemingzi |
English Name | Sickle Senna Seed |
Latin Pharmaceutical Name | Cassiae Semen |
Category | Fruits and seeds |
Origin | The dried mature seed of Cassia obtusifolia L., or Cassia tora L.(Fabaceae). |
Production Regions | Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu, Sichuan. |
Macroscopic Features | Slightly square or short cylindrical shape, two ends are parallel, slightly slanted, 3~7mm long, 2~4mm wide, greenish-brown or dark brown, smooth and lustrous, one crest line on each side, and one pale yellow concave line on the two sides of crest; hard texture, not easily broken. Cut surface presents with a seed coat and 2 yellow cotyledons in “3” shaped fold. faint odor; slightly bitter taste. |
Quality Requirements | Superior medicinal material has full seed and green color. |
Properties | Sweet, bitter, salty; slightly cold. |
Functions | Clears heat, brightens eyes, moistens intestines, frees stools. Apply to swelling pain induced by conjunctival congestion, intolerance of light and hyperdacryosis, headache and dizziness, lightheadedness, constipation. Belongs to liver, kidney and large intestine channels. It has effect of lose weight. Apply to conjunctival congestion with wind and heat, optic atrophy, night blindness, hypertension, hepatitis, abdominal dropsy due to cirrhosis, habitual constipation. |
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