Ai Ye Tan

Bitter, acrid and warm, Artemisiae argyi Folium (ai ye) enters the Spleen, Liver, and Kidney channels. Its aromatic, acrid flavor disperses, its warmth opens the flow of qi and blood in the three yin channels, and its bitterness dries dampness; thus it is an excellent gynecological herb to dispel cold-dampness and stop cold pain. Its primary applications are patterns of lower burner yang cold from deficiency, such as abdominal cold pain, cold disrupting the menstrual cycle, and infertility due to cold in the Womb. In its charred form, it can also stop bleeding, and is used in such cases as cold from deficiency causing menorrhagia, irregular uterine bleeding, vaginal discharge, and threatened miscarriage with spotting during early pregnancy.*