What it is
This herb is theyoung plant ofArtemisia scopariaWaldst. et Kit. orArtemisia capillaris Thunb. (family Com-postiae), which is produced mainly in Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces. It is collected in spring, dried in sunlight, and used unprepared.

Property:
Bitter in flavour, slightly cold inproperty, acting onthe spleen, stomach, liver and gall bladder channels.

Effects:
Eliminating dampness and heat, normalizing thefunction of the gal-lbladder and treating jaundice.

Used for:
It is used forthe treatment of juandice due to damp-heat marked by obvious yellow coloration of the eyes and skin,fever and scantydark urine, often in combination withcapejasmine fruitand rhubarb, known as Oriental Wormwood Decoction (Yinchenhao Tang). For the treat-ment of yin jaundice due to cold-dampnesscharacterized by dim yellow coloration of the eyes and skin, poor appetite,epigastric distress, lack of vitality and aversion to cold, it can be used with the lateral root of acon-ite and dried ginger, as in Oriental Worm-wood Decoction forRestoring Yang (Yinchen Sini Tang).

Dosage andadministration: 10-30g, decocted in water for an oral dose.