Schizonepeta (Schizonepeta tenuifolia)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Table of Contents

Other names for schizonepeta

Japanese Catnip
Jing Jie (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
Schizonepeta Herb

Synopsis of schizonepeta

Schizonepeta (Schizonepeta tenuifolia), also known as Japanese catnip or by its Chinese name Jing Jie (荊芥), is an aromatic herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to East Asia. The above-ground parts—primarily the flowering tops—are used in herbal medicine. Known for its warm, pungent, and slightly bitter flavor, Schizonepeta has been used extensively in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for centuries as a diaphoretic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory remedy.

In modern herbalism and TCM practice, Schizonepeta is primarily used to:

  • Dispel wind and release the exterior: It is often prescribed for early-stage colds and flus, especially when symptoms include fever, chills, sore throat, and headaches.
  • Stop bleeding: When charred (carbonized), Schizonepeta is used to treat conditions like nosebleeds, heavy menstruation, or bloody stools.
  • Relieve itching and rashes: It is included in herbal blends for eczema, hives, and other skin eruptions, particularly when related to wind-heat or wind-damp patterns.
  • Alleviate muscle aches and joint pain: Its warming nature makes it helpful for treating rheumatic conditions, especially in cold, damp environments.

The herb contains essential oils (including menthone and pulegone), flavonoids, and organic acids, which contribute to its antioxidant, antipyretic, antimicrobial, and immune-modulating properties. It is typically consumed as part of a decoction, powder, or tincture, and often combined with herbs like bo he (mint), fang feng, and jin yin hua in cold and flu formulas.

Historical Usage in Medicine:
Schizonepeta has been a core herb in Chinese herbal practice for over a thousand years. It is first documented in classical texts such as the “Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing” (Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica) and later refined in texts like the “Ben Cao Gang Mu” by Li Shizhen during the Ming dynasty.

Traditionally, it was used both as a protective herb against seasonal illnesses and as an internal cleanser for rashes and heat-related skin conditions. It was considered especially valuable for releasing wind-heat from the body—an important concept in TCM that refers to external pathogens or imbalances that cause surface-level symptoms like chills, fever, and sweating.

In many traditional formulas, Schizonepeta was added early in the course of respiratory illness to shorten the duration of symptoms and prevent deeper penetration into the body. When charred, its blood-staunching qualities were appreciated for use in uterine bleeding or hemorrhoids.

In Japan and Korea, where traditional herbal systems share similarities with TCM, Schizonepeta has also been employed in treating fevers, colds, and skin eruptions, though under different regional names and preparations.

Schizonepeta is used for these health conditions

Abdominal Pain (Traditional)
Allergies (respiratory) (Traditional)
Arthritis (Traditional)
Asthma (Traditional)
Backache (Traditional)
Bites and Stings (Traditional)
Boils (Traditional)
Bronchitis (Traditional)
Bruises (healing) (Traditional)
Burns and Scalds (Traditional)
Canker Sores (Traditional)
Chicken Pox (Traditional)
Chills (Traditional)
Colds (antiviral) (Traditional)
Colds (decongestant) (Traditional)
Colds (general) (Traditional)
Colds (prevention) (Traditional)
Conjunctivitis (Traditional)
Cuts (Traditional)
Dermatitis (Traditional)
Diarrhea (Traditional)
Digestion (poor) (Traditional)
Dizziness (Traditional)
Ear Infection or Earache (Traditional)
Eczema (Traditional)
Emphysema (Traditional)
Eye Infections (Traditional)
Eyes (red or itching) (Traditional)
Fever (Traditional)
Fungal Infections (Traditional)
Gas and Bloating (Traditional)
Gastritis (Traditional)
Gingivitis (Traditional)
Glands (swollen lymph) (Traditional)
Headache (general) (Traditional)
Headache (sinus) (Traditional)
Headache (tension) (Traditional)
Herpes (Traditional)
Indigestion (Traditional)
Infection (Traditional)
Infection (bacterial) (Traditional)
Perspiration (excessive) (Traditional)
Perspiration (deficient) (Traditional)

schizonepeta is used to support these body systems

Digestive System (Traditional)
Immune System (Traditional)
Liver (Traditional)
Lungs (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)
Senses (Traditional)
Sinuses (Traditional)
Skin (Traditional)
Spleen (Traditional)