Ài Yè · Mugwort Leaf
Ài Yè (艾叶, Mugwort Leaf) is a herb of Warm nature and Pungent, Bitter flavor, in the “Interior Warming” category. Tradition uses it to warm Channels, Stop Bleeding, Calm Fetus.
Energetic profile
- Pinyin name
- Ài Yè
- Characters
- 艾叶
- Botanical name
- Artemisia argyi H.Lév. & Vaniot
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Part used
- Leaf
- Nature
- Warm
- Flavor
- Pungent, Bitter
- Meridians
- Kidney, Liver, Spleen
- Category
- Interior Warming
- Toxicity
- Slightly toxic
- Pregnancy
- Caution
- Origin
- China, Japan, Korea
Actions according to tradition
- Warm Channels
- Stop Bleeding
- Calm Fetus
- Warm the Womb
Traditional uses
- Cold-type dysmenorrhea and irregular menstruation
- Uterine bleeding from cold and deficiency
- Threatened miscarriage from cold in womb
- Abdominal pain from cold
- Moxibustion for warming all conditions
Studied effects and current applications
- Warms the uterus and stops bleeding
- Disperses cold and relieves pain in menstrual disorders
- Used as moxibustion material to warm acupoints
- Calms restless fetus during pregnancy
- Stops cold-type bleeding disorders
Applications under investigation
- Dysmenorrhea and menstrual regulation
- Threatened abortion and miscarriage prevention
- Moxibustion therapy (moxa sticks, moxa cones)
- Chronic pain from cold conditions
- Immune modulation
An effect being investigated does not mean it has been proven in humans.
Contraindications and adverse effects
Absolute contraindications
- Yin deficiency with excess heat
- Blood heat causing bleeding
Relative contraindications
- Pregnancy (except under supervision for specific conditions)
- Liver disease with heat signs
- Pregnancy
- Can calm fetus but also stimulate uterus. Only use under TCM practitioner supervision.
- Breastfeeding
- Use with caution. May affect milk.
- Children
- Moxibustion is safe for children. Internal use: use cautiously and only processed form.
- Older adults
- Moxibustion excellent for elderly with cold conditions. Avoid internal use with yin deficiency.
Possible adverse effects
- Liver toxicity with prolonged high-dose use
- Skin irritation with excessive moxibustion
- Smoke inhalation during moxibustion
When to stop
- Liver enzyme elevation
- Heat signs increase
- Skin burns from moxa
Interactions with medications
| Group | Drugs | Severity | Effect and recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anticoagulants | Warfarin | Mild | May affect clotting when used internally Monitor INR |
| Hepatotoxic drugs | Acetaminophen | Mild | Long-term high-dose internal use may add liver burden Avoid long-term high internal doses with hepatotoxic drugs |
Reference dose
- Decoction
- 3-9 grams daily (internal)
- Moxa
- External moxibustion as needed
- Acute use
- 1-2 weeks
- Chronic use
- Use cyclically for menstrual disorders
- Maximum
- Avoid excess internal use
- Children
- Use cautiously internally in children. External moxibustion is gentler.
Forms of preparation
Simmer 3-9g in 3 cups water 20-30 min. Take twice daily.
Cold menstrual disorders, threatened miscarriage
Roll into moxa cones or sticks. Burn over acupoints at 1-2cm distance. 5-15 min per point.
Warming yang, cold conditions, chronic pain
Burn dried leaves in room to purify air (traditional antimicrobial use).
Air purification, cold-damp environments
Approximate doses from the literature; they are not a prescription. Consult a professional.
Active compounds
Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes (essential oil) and flavonoids
Bicyclic monoterpenes · Expectorant, bronchodilator, antispasmodic, antimicrobial
Blocking calcium channels in bronchial muscle, COX inhibition, antiseptic activity · 30-60% of essential oil
Lactonic sesquiterpenes · Emmenagophos, local hemostatic (moxa), antiparasitic
Uterine contraction, local vasoconstriction with heat (moxa), plasmodium inhibition · 0.3-1.0%
Monoterpenes · Antimicrobial, topical analgesic
Bacterial membrane disruption, local analgesia (TRPM8) · 5-20% essential oil
Flavonoids · Anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, antioxidant
COX-2 inhibition, fibrinolysis inhibition, radical scavenging · 0.1-0.5%
Harvesting and processing
- Harvest
- Spring-summer (May-July) before flowering
Leaves collected when young and fragrant, before flowering. Those from Hubei (蕲艾, Qichun County) are the most appreciated. They are dried in the shade to preserve the aroma.
Fresh leaves dried in the shade or with gentle heat to preserve essential oils (cineole, camphor). Standard form for decoction.
Leaves fried over high heat until superficial charring, maintaining the dark brown interior. Charring destroys essential oils and enhances the astringent and hemostatic action.
Dried leaves crushed and sieved repeatedly to remove coarse fibers and obtain the soft and woolly powder. 3-5 year old moxa (陈艾 chén ài) is considered superior for moxibustion.
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
