猫须草 / 肾茶 — Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. (syn. Orthosiphon aristatus)

Pinyin: Māoxūcǎo / Shènchá · Malay: Misai Kucing / Kumis Kucing · Family: Lamiaceae (唇形科)

Energetics

Cool (凉)

Flavor

Bitter, slightly sweet, bland (苦、微甘、淡)

Meridians

Kidney (肾), Urinary Bladder (膀胱), Liver (肝)

Traditional Edict

Clears damp-heat, drains urinary strangury, expels kidney stones, and purges hepatic fire. Classical Southeast Asian herbal tea for gravel dysuria, gout, and edema.

Cautions & Contraindications

Ensure abundant daily hydration (> 2.5 L). Contraindicated in severe cardiac or renal edema due to end-stage heart failure without medical supervision.

Clinical Applications

Nephrolithiasis (calcium oxalate/uric acid calculi), hyperuricemic gout, chronic glomerulonephritis, early-stage CKD, and hypertension.

Quality Markers

Sinensetin (香叶木素) & Rosmarinic Acid >= 0.50% (MHM / ChP)

Mechanism & Phytochemistry

1. Polymethoxylated flavones (sinensetin, eupatorin) inhibit adenosine A1 receptors, inducing renal vasodilation, sodium excretion, and uricosuric excretion. 2. Rosmarinic acid downregulates xanthine oxidase, lowering serum uric acid. 3. Inhibits urinary calcium oxalate nucleation and prevents tubular crystallization.

Preparation & Dosage

Dried leaves infused as tisane or decocted 15-20 minutes: 10-20 g daily (up to 30 g in acute lithiasis). Standardized extract: 300-600 mg.

Appended Prescriptions

1. Nanyang Litholytic & Gout Clearance Decoction with Desmodium styracifolium (Guang Jin Qian Cao) and Plantago asiatica (Che Qian Cao). 2. Renal Protective Formula with Astragalus membranaceus (Huang Qi) and Achyranthes bidentata.

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Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only