Self-heal / Prunella Vulgaris (xia ku cao)  夏枯草

Nature: Cold; pungent and bitter, attributive to liver and gall bladder

Characteristics:  Flowers and kernels used, light brown, marked by obvious veins and covered by white hairs. This drug is highly effective in all symptoms of jaundice.

Therapeutic effects: Clear away liver-fire and calm the liver-yang with symptoms such as conjunctivitis, photophobia, headache, dizziness, irritability and bad temper. Eliminate phlegm and disperse stagnation. Used for hyper-thyroidism, gout, high blood pressure, carcinoma of the lung, tuberculosis and hepatitis.