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Cyperus is the dried rhizome of the plant Cyperus rotundus from the Cyperaceae family. It is primarily wild-harvested and mainly produced in Shandong, Zhejiang, Hunan, Henan, and other regions. The original plant grows in grassy areas near water, cultivated fields, and damp places by roadsides. It thrives in warm, humid climates and moist environments, is cold-resistant, and prefers loose sandy loam soil. It has a pungent, slightly bitter, and slightly sweet taste, with a neutral nature. It belongs to the liver, spleen, and triple energizer meridians. Its effects include soothing the liver and regulating qi, relieving depression, regulating menstruation, and alleviating pain. Clinical names include Cyperus, vinegar Cyperus, wine Cyperus, charred Cyperus, and four-processed Cyperus.

bubble_chart Compendium of Materia Medica

Mingyi Bielu: It has a sweet taste, slightly cold nature, and is non-toxic. It primarily clears heat from the chest, nourishes the skin and hair, and long-term use benefits people by tonifying qi and promoting the growth of beard and eyebrows.

Tangye Bencao: It has a slightly cold qi, sweet taste, yin within yang, and is non-toxic.

The "Materia Medica" states: It clears heat from the chest, nourishes the skin and hair, and long-term use tonifies qi and promotes the growth of beard and eyebrows. Later generations used it to treat menorrhagia and metrostaxis, though the "Materia Medica" does not mention treating these conditions.

The "Tujing" states: It addresses bladder and flank qi obstruction, chronic melancholy, poor appetite, cutaneous pruritus and urticaria, gradual emaciation, palpitations, and shortness of breath. From this, it is known to tonify qi and is a qi-regulating herb in the blood. It is used in formulas to treat menorrhagia and metrostaxis by tonifying qi and stopping bleeding. It also disperses stagnant blood, promoting renewal. Similar to Croton Fruit, it treats persistent diarrhea and also addresses constipation, sharing the same principle.

The "Zhen" states: It promotes qi flow.

Bencao Yanyi Buyi: All qi and blood-regulating herbs must use it to guide qi to the qi aspect and generate blood, embodying the principle of yin growing while yang generates. It strongly lowers qi and clears heat from the chest and diaphragm.

Bencao Fahui: Jiegu states: It is sweet and bitter, slightly cold. Its qi is stronger than its taste, being yang within yin. It promotes qi flow.

Compendium of Materia Medica: Cyperus has a neutral and non-cold qi, fragrant and able to disperse, its taste is mostly pungent and can disperse, slightly bitter and can descend, slightly sweet and can harmonize. It is the main medicinal for the Liver Channel of Foot Jueyin and the Triple Energizer Channel of Hand Shaoyang, and also connects with the qi aspects of the twelve channels. When raw, it ascends to the chest and diaphragm, and reaches the skin externally; when cooked, it descends to the liver and kidneys, and reaches the waist and feet externally. When stir-fried until black, it stops bleeding; when soaked and stir-fried with child's urine, it enters the blood aspect and tonifies deficiency; when soaked and stir-fried with salt water, it enters the blood aspect and moistens dryness; when stir-fried with green salt, it tonifies kidney qi; when soaked and stir-fried with wine, it circulates through the meridians; when soaked and stir-fried with vinegar, it dissipates abdominal masses; when stir-fried with ginger juice, it resolves phlegm. When combined with ginseng and atractylodes, it tonifies qi; when combined with angelica and peony, it benefits blood; when combined with Aucklandia Root, it disperses stagnation and harmonizes the middle; when combined with sandalwood, it regulates qi and awakens the spleen; when combined with Aquilaria, it opens and descends various qi; when combined with aromatic herbs and Atractylodes Rhizome, it resolves various stagnations; when combined with Gardenia and Coptis Rhizome, it can descend fire and heat; when combined with Poria with Pine, it harmonizes the heart and kidneys; when combined with fennel fruit and malaytea scurfpea fruit, it guides qi back to its origin; when combined with Magnolia Bark and Pinellia, it breaks through blockages and reduces distension; when combined with Perilla Leaf and Fistular Onion Stalk, it disperses pathogenic qi; when combined with Sparganium Rhizome and Zedoary Rhizome, it dissipates masses and lumps; when combined with Mugwort, it treats blood qi and warms the uterus, being the commander of qi disorders, Gynaecology the main general. Han Mao said: Cyperus can push out the old and bring in the new, so all books say it tonifies qi. The common saying that it consumes qi, suitable for women but not for men, is incorrect. Women rely on blood, and when qi circulates, there is no illness. The elderly have dried essence and blocked blood, relying solely on qi. Children's qi fills daily, and their form becomes solid daily. Generally, illness causes qi stagnation and weakness, so Cyperus is the sovereign medicinal for the qi aspect, which is rarely known. When used with ginseng and astragalus, and assisted with Liquorice Root, it treats deficiency and timidity very quickly. When traveling outside, hanging a gourd and fasting lightly, treating all diseases with Yellow Crane Pill, treating women with Green Bag Pill, using appropriate guides, there are small improvements. People keep asking, users should think beyond the method. Yellow Crane Pill is the formula taught by the old man in the yellow crane robe at Yellow Crane Tower, hence the name. The formula uses one catty of Cyperus, half a catty of Coptis Rhizome, washed and dried into powder, made into pills the size of a wutong seed with flour and water paste. For external contraction, take with scallion and ginger decoction; for internal damage, take with rice water; for qi disorders, take with fragrant decoction; for blood disorders, take with wine; for phlegm disorders, take with ginger decoction; for fire disorders, take with plain water, and the rest can be inferred. Green Bag Pill is the formula taught by a Taoist to Shaoyingjie when he prayed for his mother's illness. The formula uses (slightly stir-fried) one catty of Cyperus, five taels and three qian of Lindera (slightly roasted), made into powder, cooked with water and vinegar into paste pills, used with appropriate guides, such as for headache, take with tea; for phlegm qi, take with ginger decoction; for blood disorders, take with wine. It is wonderful.

Pungent, slightly bitter, sweet; causes coldness in the limbs; a medicine of the Hand Shaoyang meridian. It can traverse all twelve meridians and enter the qi aspect of the vessels. It works well with boy's urine, vinegar, Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, and Atractylodes Rhizome.

It disperses seasonal epidemic cold pestilence, benefits the triple energizer, resolves six stagnations, eliminates food accumulation, phlegm-fluid retention, abdominal distension and fullness, and beriberi. It alleviates pain in the heart, abdomen, limbs, head, eyes, teeth, and ears. Yongju sores, hematemesis, hematuria, menorrhagia, metrostaxis, leukorrhea, irregular menstruation, and various diseases before and after childbirth.

Bencao Jingshu : Cyperus inherits the warm and dry qi of the earth and also carries the flavors of soil and metal. Thus, it tastes sweet, with a hint of bitterness, pungency, and slight coldness, and is slightly warm and non-toxic. It enters the foot Jueyin qi division and also the Hand Taiyin meridian. Its qi is thicker than its flavor, being yin within yang, and it has a descending nature. It is a qi-regulating medicine within the blood. It can traverse the qi aspects of the twelve meridians and eight vessels. It works well when soaked in boy's urine and vinegar. Sichuan Lovage Rhizome acts as its guide. Pungency disperses, while bitter warmth descends and purges. The liver governs anger and sudden outbursts, while the lung governs the skin and hair and suffers from rising qi. Rage causes qi to rise, leading to heat in the chest. Descending qi pacifies liver qi and removes chest heat, calming the lung and nourishing the skin and hair, allowing the beard and eyebrows to grow. Its long-term use tonifies qi, which is also a result of its qi-regulating function. Su Song also stated that it treats guest heat in the heart and abdomen, discomfort in the bladder and hypochondrium, chronic sorrow, and palpitations with shortness of breath. Dongyuan used it to treat all types of qi disorders, cholera, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cold qi in the kidney and bladder. Physicians commonly use it to treat women's menorrhagia, metrostaxis, leukorrhea, and menstrual irregularities, as it descends qi, regulates qi, and disperses stagnation. Blood does not move on its own but follows qi. When qi counterflows and stagnates, blood also becomes sluggish. When qi flows smoothly, blood follows and becomes harmonious. This is why women's menorrhagia, metrostaxis, and irregular menstruation all require it. However, it must be supplemented with blood-nourishing and cooling medicines, and for qi deficiency, qi-tonifying medicines should be added to achieve results. Haizang said: Materia medica does not mention treating menorrhagia and metrostaxis, but formulas use it for these conditions because it tonifies qi and stops bleeding. It also expels static blood, which is a form of renewal. It is a necessary medicine for qi depression and blood stagnation. Soaked in boy's urine and stir-fried until black, it can stop bleeding and treat menorrhagia and metrostaxis.

Caution: Cyperus is fragrant and drying, bitter, warm, and slightly pungent. For those with early menstruation due to blood heat, cooling blood is the method, and this medicine should be avoided. Misuse will worsen early menstruation.

Bencao Mengquan : It tastes bitter and sweet, with a slightly cold qi. Its qi is thicker than its flavor, being yang within yin. It is non-toxic. For regulating qi pain, stir-frying with vinegar is especially effective. It is a middle qi medicine for blood and is essential in all blood and qi formulas. It quickens qi, opens depression, expels stasis, and regulates menstruation. It eliminates external cutaneous pruritus and stops internal cholera vomiting. Stir-fried until black, it can stop menorrhagia and metrostaxis bleeding. Mixed with vinegar, it can be applied topically to treat breast abscesses. It can eliminate retained food and stabilize diarrhea. It drives heat and promotes hair growth, tonifies qi, and nourishes the skin and hair. Long-term use benefits people as a dispersing and regulating agent. It also guides blood medicines to the qi aspect to generate blood, hence it is called a key medicine for women.

Commentary: Benjing formulas use it to expel static blood and regulate menstruation, which is lowering qi and renewing. Using it to treat menorrhagia and metrostaxis is tonifying qi and stopping bleeding. It also guides blood medicines to the qi aspect to generate blood, which is also a form of tonification. How can these seemingly contradictory uses coexist? Although this reflects the principle of yin generating yang, Benjing does not mention tonification, except in the "Immortality Decoction," which is said to benefit the elderly, implying a hidden meaning. It combines movement with tonification and tonification with movement. Just as heaven is heaven because of its constant and vigorous motion, unceasing movement leads to endless generation. This is the principle.

《Materia Medica Chenya》: The chest is the domain of lung metal, qi is governed by lung metal, and the skin and hair are controlled by lung metal. Cyperus seeds function to release the exterior and promote urination, thus venting lung metal's depression. The classic says: When metal is depressed, vent it by releasing the exterior and promoting urination.

Using combined fragrances can emit various scents and odors, thus its nature is specialized in opening and closing, developing the upper energizer, disseminating the flavors of the five grains, perfuming the skin, filling the body, and nourishing the hair, like the irrigation of mist and dew. The middle energizer can also rely on it for dissemination and transformation, and the lower energizer can also rely on it for dissemination and drainage. It not only disseminates the flavors of the five grains but also disseminates the flavors of various medicines, serving as the vanguard and messenger for all medicines. If the upper energizer fails to close, then the qi of all yang will counterflow in the chest, causing heat in the chest, daily worries and unhappiness, palpitations, and shortness of breath. By opening and closing, it follows the opening, and once it is smooth, it disseminates. Then the chest heat will naturally dissipate, worries will naturally release, palpitations will naturally calm, shortness of breath will naturally improve, filling the skin and hair, growing beard and eyebrows, truly like the beneficial irrigation of mist and dew. If food and drink accumulate, causing fullness and hardness, or cholera with vomiting and counterflow, or menstruation not coming on time, this is exactly when the middle energizer needs to disseminate and transform. If the bladder qi is obstructed, or there is menorrhagia and metrostaxis leukorrhea, or hematuria, this is exactly when the lower energizer needs to disseminate and drain. If muscles waste away, or there is urticaria and cutaneous pruritus, or skin gathering and hair breaking, this is exactly when the upper energizer needs to disseminate and develop, not perfuming the skin, not filling the body, not nourishing the hair, not like the irrigation of mist and dew. Observing the Tianbao formula, boiling the juice for fumigation and bathing, causing sweat to come out five to seven times, eliminates urticaria and stops cutaneous pruritus, then one knows the use of mist and dew fumigation, filling, and irrigation. Li Shizhen said: Salt moves into the blood; green salt enters the kidneys; wine moves through the meridians; vinegar dissolves abdominal masses; ginger resolves phlegm and drinks; ginseng and atractylodes tonify qi; angelica and rehmannia nourish the camp; Aucklandia root moves stagnation; sandalwood awakens the spleen; Aquilaria raises and lowers all qi; chuanxiong and atractylodes resolve all six stagnations; Poria connects the heart and kidneys; fennel fruit and Psoralea guide qi back to the origin; Magnolia Bark and Pinellia resolve abscesses and reduce swelling; scallion and perilla disperse the six excesses; sparganium and zedoary release masses and accumulations; mugwort warms the uterus. And as a messenger for various medicinal stones, the use of opening and closing, speculation and exploration is vast.

Yaoxing Jie: Cyperus, with a pungent and sweet taste, warm in nature, non-toxic, enters the four meridians of the lung, liver, spleen, and stomach. It disperses qi, relieves depression, eliminates wind, and stops itching. Note: Cyperus has a sweet and pungent taste, hence it primarily disperses and dredges, entering the lung, liver, spleen, and stomach. It is often referred to as the Gynaecology holy medicine because women tend to have a biased temperament, often experiencing excessive qi and depression, and blood cannot be generated due to qi depression. However, it is only suitable for those with substantial qi and not severe blood deficiency; otherwise, it may damage their qi, dry their blood, and exacerbate their illness. Unfortunately, this has not been clearly explained, and the public is often misled by the term Gynaecology holy medicine. It is dry in nature, hence it is processed with moisture to moisten it; it is dispersing in nature, hence it is processed with vinegar to astringe it.

Yaojian: Slightly warm in qi, sweet and pungent in taste, heavy in qi and light in taste, it is a blood and middle qi medicine, essential in all blood and qi formulas. It quickens qi, relieves depression, dispels stasis, and regulates menstruation. Besides treating cutaneous pruritus and external pathogens, it stops cholera, vomiting, and internal syndromes. When fried black, it stops menorrhagia and metrostaxis. Applied with vinegar, it treats breast swelling and abscesses. It also guides blood medicine to the qi aspect to generate blood. Fried with vinegar, it is excellent for regulating qi pain; processed with salt, it is good for treating kidney pain. Fried with wine, it becomes hot; boiled with urine, it becomes cool. Combined with qi medicine, it enters the qi aspect; combined with blood medicine, it enters the blood aspect. Gynaecology holy medicine. Generally, sweetness can harmonize qi and blood, and pungency can disperse stagnation and digest food. This medicine can disperse qi and relieve depression; when qi is dispersed and depression is relieved, new blood is generated and the body is harmonized. However, this medicine is hot and dry in nature, so it must be soaked and fried with child's urine. Lindera is its adjuvant.

Jingyue Quanshu: Bitter, pungent, slightly sweet in taste, warm in qi. Both qi and taste are strong, yang with yin, it is a blood and middle qi medicine. It specifically enters the liver and gallbladder meridians, and also moves the qi of all meridians. It is used to move stagnant qi and blood; fried with child's urine, it is intended to move downward; fried with vinegar, it regulates qi pain, opens the six stagnations, disperses cold pathogens, benefits the triple energizer, moves stagnation, digests food and phlegm, relieves abdominal distension and fullness, treats foot qi, stops pain in the heart, abdomen, limbs, head, eyes, teeth, and ears, treats cholera, vomiting, qi stagnation diarrhea, hematemesis, hematuria, women's menorrhagia, leukorrhea, Jingmai irregularity, and pre- and post-natal qi counterflow diseases. Because it can relieve depression, it is called an essential medicine for women. However, its pungent taste can move, and if yin deficiency, dryness, heat, sweating, and blood loss are present, it is a great mistake to consider it essential. Additionally, for Yongju scrofula, sores, and ulcers, as long as qi is stagnant, it should be used as an essential medicine.

Bencao Beiyao: Also known as the root of Cyperus, it disperses and regulates qi, relieves depression.

The nature of normal circuit qi is fragrant, pungent to disperse, slightly bitter to descend, and slightly sweet to harmonize. It is a blood and middle qi medicine, circulating through the twelve meridians and eight extraordinary vessels, governing all qi. In the human body, qi is paramount; when qi is abundant, the body is strong; when deficient, it weakens; when smooth, it is balanced; when reversed, it causes illness; and when cut off, it leads to death. The classics say: rage causes qi to rise, fear causes qi to sink, over-joy causes qi to slacken, sorrow causes qi consumption, fright causes disorder of qi, pensiveness causes qi stagnation, overexertion leads to qi consumption—these are the qi of the seven emotions. With Cyperus as the sovereign, add ascending, descending, dispersing, and tonifying medicines according to the syndrome. ○Suwen also mentions that cold causes qi to contract, and heat causes qi to disperse, known as the nine qi. It benefits the triple energizer, resolves six stagnations: phlegm stagnation, fire stagnation, qi depression, blood stagnation, damp stagnation, and food stagnation. It stops all pain, as free flow prevents pain. It treats excessive anger and worry, phlegm-fluid retention and fullness, chest swelling and abdominal distension, food accumulation, cholera with vomiting and diarrhea, kidney qi and beriberi, Yongju sores and ulcers caused by blood coagulation and qi stagnation. Cyperus alone, powdered and taken, is called the Dushang Pill, treating Yongju caused by depression and anger. If sores are just forming, use it as tea; it is also suitable after ulceration. Generally, sores and ulcers favor fragrant medicines, moving qi and promoting blood circulation, and are most averse to foul and unclean contact. ○ Thus, the ancients often used the Five Fragrances Forsythia Decoction to treat ulcers. ○ Kang Zu had a breast abscess and a lump between the ribs, painful for half a year, and prayed to Zhang Wang, who in a dream gave him a prescription: Cyperus processed with ginger juice, powdered, taken two qian each time with rice water, and he was cured. Hematemesis, hematochezia, menorrhagia, irregular menstruation. Qi matches blood, and blood moves with qi; clots in menstruation indicate qi coagulation; pain before menstruation indicates qi stagnation; pain after menstruation indicates deficiency of both qi and blood; pale color also indicates deficiency; purple color indicates heat in qi; black color indicates extreme heat; irregular menstruation indicates disorder of qi; obese people have much phlegm and obstructed menstruation due to qi not moving. Cyperus is a qi-moving medicine in the yin aspect, smoothing qi and harmonizing blood, but it must be assisted by cooling blood and tonifying qi medicines. Danxi said: It can lead blood medicines to the qi aspect and generate blood. This is the meaning of yin growing while yang generates. It treats all diseases of pregnancy and childbirth. It can eliminate the old and bring forth the new, so all books say it tonifies qi. It has tonifying effects within its moving properties. Danxi said: The heavens move vigorously without ceasing, thus endlessly generating life—this is the principle. Shizhen said: When people are sick, qi stagnates and weakens; Cyperus is the sovereign medicinal for the qi aspect, with ginseng and astragalus as ministers, and liquorice root as assistant, treating deficiency and timidity very quickly. Remove the hairs before use. Raw, it ascends to the chest and diaphragm, reaching the skin; cooked, it descends to the liver and kidneys, extending to the waist and knees. Soaked in child's urine and fried, it enters the blood aspect and tonifies deficiency; soaked in salt water and fried, it enters the blood aspect and moistens dryness; or fried with honey water. Fried with green salt, it tonifies kidney qi; soaked in wine and fried, it moves through the meridians; soaked in vinegar and fried, it slightly disperses abdominal masses and restrains its dispersing nature. Fried with ginger juice, it resolves phlegm and fluids; fried black, it can also stop bleeding. Avoid iron. Shizhen said: With ginseng and atractylodes, it tonifies qi; with angelica and rehmannia, it tonifies blood; with aucklandia root, it disperses stagnation and harmonizes the middle; with sandalwood, it regulates qi and awakens the spleen; with aquilaria, it ascends and descends all qi; with sichuan lovage rhizome and atractylodes rhizome, it resolves all stagnations; with gardenia and coptis rhizome, it clears and descends fire heat; with poria with pine, it connects the heart and kidneys; with fennel fruit and malaytea scurfpea fruit, it guides qi back to the origin; with magnolia bark and pinellia, it breaks congestion and disperses distension; with perilla leaf and fistular onion stalk, it induces sweating and disperses pathogens; with sparganium rhizome and zedoary rhizome, it disperses accumulation and grinds masses; with mugwort, it treats blood qi and warms the uterus. It is the general controller of qi diseases, Gynaecology's miraculous medicine. Generally, women are prone to depression, and when qi moves, depression resolves, so taking it is especially effective. It is not only suitable for women but also for men. Li Shi-cai said: It is a medicine for treating the branch, suitable only for those with substantial qi and not greatly deficient blood; otherwise, it may damage qi and dry blood, worsening the disease. The common people are stuck on the phrase Gynaecology miraculous medicine, regrettably, no one has elucidated this point.

Benjing Fengyuan: The qi of Cyperus is neutral and not cold, fragrant and able to disperse. It is the main herb for the Liver Channel of Foot Jueyin and the Triple Energizer Channel of Hand Shaoyang, and also enters the Chong Mai. It opens stagnant qi, disperses phlegm and food stagnation, disperses wind-cold, promotes blood and qi circulation, and relieves various pains. It is an essential herb for irregular menstruation, menorrhagia and metrostaxis during pregnancy, and for those who are prone to anger and worry. It treats discomfort in the hypochondriac regions and palpitations with shortness of breath, acting as a qi-regulating herb in the blood. Since blood does not move on its own but follows qi, when qi counterflows and stagnates, blood also coagulates; when qi flows smoothly, blood follows and becomes harmonious. When used raw, it ascends to the chest and diaphragm, reaching the skin and hair, thus dispersing wind-cold. When cooked, it descends to the liver and kidneys, reaching the waist and feet, thus regulating blood and qi. Combined with Ginseng and Atractylodes, it tonifies qi; with Angelica and Rehmannia, it regulates blood; with Aucklandia Root, it promotes stagnation and harmonizes the middle; with Aquilaria, it regulates the ascending and descending of qi; with Sichuan Lovage Rhizome and Atractylodes Rhizome, it resolves various stagnations; with Gardenia and Coptis Rhizome, it reduces fire and clears heat; with Poria, it harmonizes the heart and kidneys; with Fennel Fruit and Psoralea, it guides qi back to its origin; with Magnolia Bark and Pinellia, it relieves stagnation and reduces distension; with Perilla Leaf and Fistular Onion Stalk, it disperses pathogenic qi; with Sparganium Rhizome and Zedoary Rhizome, it dissolves masses; with Mugwort, it regulates blood and qi and warms the uterus. It is the commander of qi disorders and the leading herb in gynecology. However, it should not be used for advanced menstruation with pale discharge or for those with silent and odorless qi loss. If blood and qi are already deficient, further promoting qi will only accelerate their depletion.

Bencao Qiuzhen: [Comment] Enters the liver to open stagnation and disperse obstruction, invigorating the blood to unblock meridians.

Cyperus specifically enters the liver and gallbladder, and also the lungs. It is pungent, bitter, fragrant, and drying. According to texts, it is highly praised for its ability to enter the liver and gallbladder channels to open stagnation, which includes phlegm stagnation, fire stagnation, qi depression, blood stagnation, damp stagnation, and food stagnation. It disperses obstruction, invigorates the blood to unblock meridians, and regulates the qi aspect of various channels. Zhang Zi-he said that sages cherish qi as a precious treasure, while ordinary people misuse it, harming the body's harmony. He also said that qi is originally one, but due to various triggers, it divides into nine types: anger, joy, sorrow, fear, cold, heat, fright, pensiveness, and overexertion. Rage causes qi to rise, over-joy causes qi to slacken, fear causes qi to sink, cold causes qi to contract, heat causes qi to disperse, pensiveness causes qi to stagnate, and overexertion leads to qi consumption. These are the nine types of qi, and treatment should differentiate between deficiency and excess. For cholera with vomiting and diarrhea, menorrhagia and metrostaxis, and menstrual disorders, the condition should be carefully analyzed before prescribing. Pain before menstruation is due to qi stagnation and is excess; pain after menstruation is due to qi and blood deficiency; pain that improves with pressure is deficiency; pain that worsens with pressure is excess; pale blood with pain that improves with pressure is deficiency; dark blood with pain that worsens with pressure is excess. Generally, menorrhagia and metrostaxis are caused by qi deficiency and blood heat, so cooling blood and tonifying qi are essential. For disorders of the triple energizer, the upper energizer acts as a sprayer, the middle as a fermentor, and the lower as a drainer. Treatment is effective in all cases. It is also said that when used raw, it ascends to the chest and diaphragm, reaching the skin; when cooked, it descends to the liver and kidneys, reaching the waist and feet; when stir-fried until black, it stops bleeding and tonifies deficiency; when stir-fried with saltwater, it enters the blood aspect to moisten dryness; when stir-fried with green salt, it tonifies kidney qi; when stir-fried with wine, it moves through the meridians; when stir-fried with vinegar, it dissolves abdominal masses; when stir-fried with ginger juice, it resolves phlegm and fluid retention. Combined with Ginseng and Atractylodes, it tonifies qi; with Angelica and Rehmannia, it tonifies blood; with Aucklandia Root, it disperses stagnation and harmonizes the middle; with Sandalwood, it regulates qi and awakens the spleen; with Aquilaria, it regulates the ascending and descending of qi; with Sichuan Lovage Rhizome and Atractylodes Rhizome, it resolves various stagnations; with Gardenia and Coptis Rhizome, it reduces fire and heat; with Poria, it harmonizes the heart and kidneys; with Fennel Fruit and Psoralea, it guides qi back to its origin; with Sparganium Rhizome and Zedoary Rhizome, it dissolves masses; with Magnolia Bark and Pinellia, it relieves stagnation and reduces distension; with Perilla Leaf and Fistular Onion Stalk, it disperses pathogenic qi; with Mugwort, it warms the uterus. It is the commander of qi disorders. Generally, it is more suitable for women than men. Li Shizhen said: Women rely on blood, and when qi flows smoothly, there is no disease. The elderly have depleted essence and closed blood, relying solely on qi. Children's qi fills daily, solidifying their form. In general, illness causes qi stagnation and weakness, so Cyperus is the sovereign herb for the qi aspect, a fact rarely known. Combined with Ginseng and Astragalus, and assisted by Liquorice Root, it quickly treats deficiency and timidity. This herb specifically opens stagnation and disperses qi, differing from Aucklandia Root, which moves qi. Aucklandia Root has a bitter and harsh taste, thus quickly promoting qi, while Cyperus is bitter but not harsh, thus more effective in resolving stagnation. Its nature is milder than Aucklandia Root, making it suitable for modifying qi-moving and obstruction-removing formulas, whereas Aucklandia Root is not. However, its qi is fragrant and drying, so it is contraindicated in cases of yin deficiency and thin qi.

Depei Bencao: Combines well with Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, Atractylodes Rhizome, vinegar, and child's urine.

Pungent and slightly bitter. Enters the Liver Channel of Foot Jueyin and the Triple Energizer Channel of Hand Shaoyang, circulating through the twelve regular channels and the eight extraordinary vessels. It opens the hypochondriac regions, resolves various stagnations, and guides blood herbs to the qi aspect to generate blood. Qi stagnation prevents blood generation, and dispersing it promotes blood production. It treats all conditions caused by blood coagulation and qi stagnation.

Prunella is effective for treating eye pain; when liver qi is unobstructed, there is no pain. Combined with black gardenia and Sichuan coptis, it reduces stagnant fire; with patchouli and liquorice root, it treats morning sickness; with seaweed, it treats hernia; with ginseng and astragalus, it treats deficiency and timidity; when supplemented without stagnation, qi naturally arises. With poria with pine, it harmonizes the heart and kidneys; when the qi of the heart and kidneys is not stagnant, they harmonize. With Sichuan lovage rhizome and atractylodes rhizome, it treats blood stagnation headache; with angelica and rehmannia, it tonifies yin blood; when qi stagnation is present, blood does not generate. With true mugwort, it warms the uterus and treats various pains in the heart and abdomen; with perilla leaf, it disperses external pathogens. Paired with Aucklandia root, it regulates middle qi; with magnolia bark and pinellia, it resolves congestion and distension; with aquilaria, it regulates the ascending and descending of various qi; with sandalwood, it regulates qi and awakens the spleen; with lychee seed, it treats stabbing pain due to blood and qi; with fine tea, it treats headache.

When used raw, it ascends to the chest and diaphragm, and reaches the skin externally; when used cooked, it descends to the liver and kidneys, and reaches the waist and feet externally. To resolve blood stagnation, use it raw; to stop bleeding, stir-fry until black. To regulate kidney qi, stir-fry with saline water; for qi stagnation, stir-fry with wine; to dissolve lumps at the left hypochondrium, stir-fry with vinegar; to resolve phlegm and dissolve nodules, stir-fry with ginger juice; to disperse masses, stir-fry with child's urine; to moisten dryness, stir-fry with saline water. For use in cooling and tonifying formulas, soak in child's urine, dry by boiling, and stir-fry until scorched. For abscesses, sores, and ulcers, decoct and drink as tea.

Prolonged use may promote fire, consume blood, and disperse qi. It is contraindicated in cases of qi deficiency causing distension, blood deficiency causing internal heat, early menstruation, and depletion of essence and blood leading to amenorrhea.

Cyperus, Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, Mentha, Scouring Rush Herb, Gastrodia Tuber, Arnebia, and Bupleurum all enter the liver meridian to disperse liver qi, but they should be differentiated in treatment. Bupleurum disperses wind-heat in the liver meridian; Sichuan Lovage Rhizome raises blood and qi in the liver meridian; Cyperus resolves stagnation in the liver meridian; Scouring Rush Herb disperses cold pathogens in the liver meridian; Gastrodia Tuber unblocks blood vessels in the liver; Mentha removes wind-fire in the liver meridian; Arnebia eliminates heat toxins in the liver. Each has its specific application and should not be used indiscriminately to avoid damaging liver qi.

Benjing Shuzheng : Principles are constant, and things do not have two extremes. Those with horns do not have teeth, and those with wings have two feet; nothing can be arbitrarily added or removed. Cyperus, for instance, has stems that form spikes and bear grains like millet, and its roots extend continuously, bearing fruits like jujubes. Above, its leaves are lush and abundant; below, its roots are numerous and intertwined. Its qi is indeed vigorous. However, it is important to investigate its origin. Without a towering stem or massive roots, yet flourishing so abundantly, it is clear that its vitality is concentrated between the roots and leaves. In the human body, this corresponds to the chest. The intricate roots resemble the winding pathways of the zang-fu organs' meridians, and the orderly leaves correspond to the Jingmai that permeates the entire body. Only when the internal qi does not wind intricately and the external qi does not circulate orderly can the chest be heated, and the qi fill the skin and hair, thus resolving the heat. Therefore, removing chest heat fills the skin and hair, and filling the skin and hair is a result of removing chest heat. When qi gathers internally without reaching the surface, or when external qi is weak and not sustained, the skin and hair wither. When internal qi reaches the surface, it tonifies qi; when external qi is sustained, it promotes the growth of beard and eyebrows. Thus, tonifying qi promotes the growth of beard and eyebrows, and the growth of beard and eyebrows is due to the increase in qi. However, these are all diseases of qi, and regulating qi can resolve the disease. Why do later generations consider it a blood and middle qi medicine? Qi warms, and blood moistens. Warming can generate but not nourish, while moistening can nourish but not generate. Therefore, merely stimulating the heat in the chest to reach the skin and hair without blood intervening cannot be called filling. Merely penetrating the internal qi to reach the beard and eyebrows without blood intervening cannot be called growth. To fill and to grow, is it not because blood follows qi, and qi extends blood, without qi consuming blood or blood obstructing qi? This is precisely because its root fibers twist and produce fruits and hairs, and its leaves are glossy, flexible, and unyielding. In summary, this substance is yang in its lower part and yin in its upper part. Therefore, later generations use it to treat qi, especially stagnant and unobstructed qi, and to treat blood, especially blood that does not rise. Speaking of its dual action, it has the distinction of ascending and descending; speaking of its unique ability, it has the function of opening and closing.

Bencao Xinbian : Cyperus is bitter and sweet in taste, cold and thick in qi, yang within yin, and non-toxic. It enters the liver and gallbladder meridians. It specializes in resolving qi depression and pain, regulating menstruation and dispelling stasis, relieving cutaneous pruritus, stopping cholera vomiting, menorrhagia and metrostaxis, breast swelling, abscesses, and sores, all of which it can treat. It can dissolve retained food, solidify diarrhea, promote hair growth, and guide blood medicine to the qi aspect. It is an essential item in qi and blood formulas. It can be used as an adjuvant but not as a sovereign or minister. Nowadays, people do not understand this and use Cyperus as a sovereign to treat women's diseases, such as in Wujin Pill and Sizhi Cyperus Pill. Temporary use may bring relief, but over time, the deficient become more deficient, and the stagnant become more stagnant. Why? Cyperus is not a tonic formula. It is used to lower qi and expel the old, not to lower qi and generate the new; to guide blood medicine to the qi aspect and disperse stagnation, not to guide blood medicine into the qi aspect and generate blood. Without the flavors of qi and blood, how can yin be generated and yang grow? Therefore, for qi deficiency, tonify with ginseng and astragalus; for blood deficiency, generate with angelica and cooked rehmannia. Cyperus merely harmonizes within, serving as a minor assistant. To lightly appoint it as a general is to court failure.

Someone asked, "Cyperus is considered a sacred medicine for relieving depression. You say it cannot be the sovereign, but does that mean Cyperus cannot relieve depression?" The response was: "If Cyperus does not relieve depression, then what medicine can? However, it should not be used exclusively as the sovereign. Stagnation disease invariably harms the liver. Cyperus enters the liver and gallbladder meridians and also disperses qi, making it naturally effective in clearing stagnation in the liver. However, harming the liver inevitably harms the blood, and Cyperus cannot generate blood. It must be supplemented with Peony Root and Chinese Angelica to nourish the blood, as sufficient blood makes depression even easier to resolve. Among sovereign medicinal herbs for relieving depression, none is better than Peony Root. When Peony Root is paired with supporting herbs, none works faster than Cyperus and Bupleurum. Thus, Peony Root serves as the sovereign for Cyperus, while Cyperus acts as an assistant to Peony Root. Together, they treat depression—what depression could remain unresolved?"

Someone asked: Cyperus relieves depression and stimulates appetite, yet there are cases where depression remains unresolved and appetite unstimulated despite using Cyperus. Could it be due to the lack of Peony Root and Chinese Angelica? The response was: It's not entirely so. Cyperus relieves depression that is easily alleviated; it stimulates an undamaged stomach. For lovesickness, the heart must be treated with emetic therapy for depression to lift; for heartbreak, an unexpected joy is needed to stimulate the appetite. Mere Cyperus is indeed ineffective, and even adding large amounts of Peony Root and rich Chinese Angelica may not help. Can we really rely solely on herbs to relieve depression and stimulate appetite?

Someone asked: Since you, sir, claim that Cyperus is ineffective in relieving depression, does that mean depression is incurable? I fear for those suffering from depression. Alas! Depression that cannot be relieved is beyond the power of herbs; but for depression that can be relieved, what else but herbs can alleviate it? Cyperus is precisely for relieving resolvable depression. To seek solutions outside of herbs for resolvable depression is misguided.

Some doubt Cyperus's dry nature makes it easily enter the liver, and since liver qi is depressed, the liver wood becomes drier. Using dryness to treat dryness, how can it relieve depression? The response was: Cyperus relieves depression precisely because of its dryness. Its dryness allows it to enter dry areas, but it should not be used alone in dry conditions. Combined with Peony Root and Chinese Angelica, it moistens within dryness, soothing the liver and relieving depression without exacerbating dryness.

Bencao Fenjing : Pungent and fragrant, slightly bitter and sweet. It circulates through the twelve meridians and eight extraordinary vessels, regulating all qi, guiding blood-nourishing herbs to the qi aspect to generate blood, resolving six stagnations, benefiting the triple energizer, and dispersing accumulations to regulate menstruation. It is a symptomatic treatment, potentially depleting qi and blood.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

1. 5% Cyperus liquid extract relaxes uterine smooth muscle, reducing contraction force, and has an inhibitory effect on the uterus. Cyperus also treats menstrual irregularities.
2. Cyperus volatile oil has estrogen-like effects.
3. Cyperus ethanol extract and triterpenoids in Cyperus have analgesic effects. Cyperus alcohol extract has sedative and antipyretic effects.
4. Cyperene I and II have antibacterial effects, while triterpenoids in Cyperus have anti-inflammatory effects.