Ingredient Processed / Derived product (加工品 jiā gōng pǐn)

Qian jin zi shuang

Caper Spurge Seed Frost · 千金子霜

Euphorbia lathyris L. · Euphorbiae Semen Pulveratum

Also known as: Xu Sui Zi Shuang (续随子霜)

Qian Jin Zi Shuang is the defatted seed powder of the Caper Spurge plant, processed to reduce toxicity. It is a potent purgative used to drive out excess water from the body in cases of severe edema or ascites and to break up blood stasis that causes obstructed menstruation. Due to its toxic nature, it must be used in small doses under professional guidance, and is contraindicated during pregnancy.

Category Harsh expellants (峻下逐水药) Blood-breaking and mass-dispersing herbs (破血消癥药) Toxic herbs requiring caution (有毒药)
Therapeutic focus Water retention and edema Constipation and abdominal bloating Skin warts and fungal infections Menstrual disorders (amenorrhea)

TCM Properties

Temperature

Warm

Taste

Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn)

Channels entered

Liver, Kidneys, Large Intestine

Parts used

Processed / Derived product (加工品 jiā gōng pǐn)

Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

What This Ingredient Does

Every ingredient has a specific set of actions — here's what Qian jin zi shuang does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Qian jin zi shuang is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Water retention and edema Constipation and abdominal bloating Skin warts and fungal infections Menstrual disorders (amenorrhea)

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Qian jin zi shuang performs to restore balance in the body:

Drains downward and expels water (泻下逐水) Breaks blood and disperses masses (破血消癥) External use to treat tinea and warts (外用疗癣蚀疣)

How these actions work

Drains downward and expels water: This means the herb acts as a powerful purgative, forcing excess fluids out of the body through the stool and urinary tract. It is used for intense water retention that does not respond to gentler diuretics—think of it like an emergency valve that rapidly relieves pressure from ascites or whole-body edema.

Breaks blood and disperses masses: The herb moves blood with considerable force, dissolving static blood that has congealed into masses or blocked the menstrual flow. This action is indicated when palpable abdominal lumps, severe clotting, or amenorrhea are caused by stasis rather than deficiency.

External use to treat tinea and warts: Applied locally as a paste, the herb’s acrid, dispersing, and mildly toxic properties kill skin parasites and erode abnormal growths. It can help shrink stubborn warts and clear ringworm lesions.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Qian jin zi shuang is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Qian jin zi shuang addresses this pattern

Qian Jin Zi Shuang drains downward and expels water. Its acrid and warm nature enters the Kidney and Large Intestine channels, forcefully purging accumulated fluids through the bowels and urine. This addresses the core mechanism of Oedema where water overflows into the tissues due to impaired fluid metabolism.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Edema

generalized or lower-limb swelling

Ascites

abdominal distension from fluid buildup

Scanty Urination

reduced urine output

Constipation

hard, dry stools with urge but difficult passage

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Qian jin zi shuang is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Oedema Phlegm-Fluids in the Stomach and Small intestine

TCM Interpretation

In TCM, edema is seen as water overflowing into the tissues because the Spleen, Lungs, and Kidneys have lost control of fluid metabolism. When this internal dampness becomes severe, it can progress to ascites and whole-body swelling.

Why Qian jin zi shuang Helps

Qian Jin Zi Shuang acts as a harsh expellant. Its acrid, warm nature enters the Kidney and Large Intestine channels to open the lower orifices and force trapped water out through the stool and urine. This rapid drainage relieves pressure, making it suitable for acute, severe fluid overload where gentle diuretics would be too slow.

Also commonly used for

Ascites

Rapidly removes abdominal fluid through bowel movements and urination

Constipation

Strongly drains downward to relieve stubborn constipation with abdominal distension

Warts

Applied topically to dissolve skin growths, especially common and plantar warts

Tinea

External paste treats stubborn ringworm and fungal infections by killing parasites

Ingredient Properties

Every ingredient has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Warm

Taste

Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn)

Channels Entered

Liver Kidneys Large Intestine

Parts Used

Processed / Derived product (加工品 jiā gōng pǐn)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Qian jin zi shuang — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

0.5–1 g per dose, taken as a prepared pill or powder. Not used in decoction.

Maximum dosage

Do not exceed 1 g per dose. Even at the upper limit, this is a toxic dose that must be administered only under strict professional supervision and for a severely indicated condition.

Dosage notes

Qian Jin Zi Shuang is exclusively administered as a pill or powder; it is not boiled. The dose range is narrow (0.5–1 g) and must be strictly observed. For external use, a suitable amount of powder is applied directly to the lesion. Treatment duration is usually short due to the herb's toxic nature.

Preparation

Qian Jin Zi Shuang is a ready-processed powder. It is added to pill formulations or divided into powders for direct oral intake. It is never decocted. For external treatment, the powder is applied directly to the affected skin in an appropriate amount.

Processing Methods

In TCM, the same ingredient can be prepared in different ways to change its effects — here's how processing alters what Qian jin zi shuang does

Processing method

Seeds are decorticated to remove the outer shell. The clean kernels are pounded into a paste, wrapped, steamed, and repeatedly pressed to express the fatty oil. The resulting cake is then ground into a fine, loose powder.

How it changes properties

The raw seed is strongly hot, acrid, and violently purgative. Removing most of the fatty oil (from ~48% down to 18–20%) reduces its toxicity and moderates the drastic downward-draining action, while preserving its ability to expel water and break blood stasis.

When to use this form

This processed form is used when a controlled, less drastic purgative and anti-blood-stasis effect is required, particularly in pill or powder form for internal use, and for patients who cannot tolerate the raw seed.

Common Ingredient Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Qian jin zi shuang for enhanced therapeutic effect

Qian Niu Zi
Qian Niu Zi 1:1 (Qian Jin Zi Shuang 1g : Qian Niu Zi 1g, both in powder form)

Creates a potent water-driving, stool-moving synergy. Qian Jin Zi Shuang scours out deep fluid retention and breaks blood stasis, while Qian Niu Zi guides water downward through the urine and stool.

When to use: For severe generalized edema, ascites, or constipated fluid accumulation with abdominal distension and scanty urine.

Key Formulas

These well-known formulas feature Qian jin zi shuang in a prominent role

Zi Jin Ding 紫金锭 Assistant

In Zi Jin Ding, Qian Jin Zi Shuang helps break blood stasis and expel toxins, supporting the formula's action of resolving epidemic pathogens and reducing swelling. This illustrates the herb's role in emergency presentations where rapid elimination of pathogenic water and stasis is required.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Gan Sui
Qian jin zi shuang vs Gan Sui

Gan Sui is also a harsh water-expelling purgative but is colder in nature and primarily targets phlegm-fluids above the diaphragm (pleural effusion). Qian Jin Zi Shuang is warm and additionally breaks blood stasis, making it more suitable for cold-damp fluid retention with amenorrhea or abdominal masses.

Da Huang
Qian jin zi shuang vs Da Huang

Da Huang also purges the bowels and breaks blood stasis, but its cold nature clears heat. Qian Jin Zi Shuang is warm and toxic, chosen for cold-fluid accumulation with blood stasis where adding cold would worsen the condition.

Identity & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Qian jin zi shuang

The processed frost powder may be adulterated with inert starches or other plant powders. Authentic Qian Jin Zi Shuang can be verified by its fat oil content (18.0–20.0%) and the characteristic microscopic features of the original seed (thick-walled palisade cells, brown contents, and reticulate epidermal cells). The raw seed (千金子) is sometimes confused with other Euphorbia species, but the correct seed is ellipsoid, 5 mm long, with fine network wrinkles and a longitudinal groove.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any ingredient.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Qian jin zi shuang

Toxic

Raw Qian Jin Zi seeds contain about 48–50% fatty oil rich in diterpene esters (e.g., euphorbia sterol, ingenol esters), which are strong irritants to the gastrointestinal mucosa. Acute poisoning causes severe nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and in extreme cases, hypotension and shock. Processing into frost reduces the oil content to 18–20% (Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard), which significantly lowers the purgative toxicity while retaining therapeutic efficacy. Even the processed form must never exceed the prescribed dose, and it is contraindicated in vulnerable populations.

Contraindications

Situations where Qian jin zi shuang should not be used or requires extra caution

Avoid

Pregnancy — absolute contraindication; contains strong blood-breaking and purgative actions that may stimulate uterine contractions and endanger the fetus. Listed as 禁用 (prohibited) in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

Avoid

Breastfeeding — absolute contraindication; toxic diterpene esters can pass into breast milk and harm the nursing infant.

Avoid

Children — absolutely contraindicated; immature digestive systems are highly vulnerable to severe gastrointestinal irritation, fluid loss, and shock.

Caution

Weak Spleen with chronic loose stools — relative contraindication; the harsh purgative effect can further injure Spleen-Qi and worsen diarrhea.

Caution

General debility and deficiency conditions — use with extreme caution, if at all; the herb's draining action easily depletes Qi and fluids.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Absolute contraindication. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia explicitly lists Qian Jin Zi Shuang as pregnancy-disabled (禁用). Its strong blood-breaking and drastic purgative actions can induce uterine contractions, placental transfer of toxic components, and potentially lead to miscarriage or fetal poisoning.

Breastfeeding

Absolute contraindication. Toxic diterpene esters can pass into breast milk and may cause severe diarrhea and dehydration in a nursing infant. The herb should not be used at any point during lactation.

Children

Absolutely contraindicated in children. The herb's extreme gastrointestinal irritancy and risk of profound fluid and electrolyte loss outweigh any potential benefit. Safer alternatives must always be sought.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Qian jin zi shuang

Strong purgatives and harsh herbs: Combining with other drastic purgatives (e.g., Ba Dou, Gan Sui, Da Huang in large doses) greatly increases the risk of severe diarrhea and electrolyte imbalance.
Diuretics and antihypertensives (especially ACE inhibitors): The purgative effect may cause hypokalemia and volume depletion, potentiating hypotension and dangerous electrolyte disturbances; close monitoring is essential if concurrent use cannot be avoided.
Corticosteroids and drugs causing potassium loss: Additive potassium depletion is possible.
Other toxic TCM materials: Should not be combined with strong irritants/carcinogens such as Ma Qian Zi (Strychnos) or arsenic-containing minerals.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Qian jin zi shuang

During treatment, avoid spicy, greasy, fried, or irritating foods and alcohol, as these can aggravate gastrointestinal irritation. Favor bland, easily digestible liquids such as rice congee. Since the herb can cause fluid loss, maintain adequate hydration under a practitioner's guidance.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Qian jin zi shuang source source material

The source plant, Qian Jin Zi (续随子, Euphorbia lathyris L.), is a biennial herb growing up to 1 m tall, with a white latex sap. Stems are stout and branched. Leaves are opposite, sessile, linear-lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, 5–12 cm long, with a V-shaped clasping base and entire margins. The terminal inflorescence is a cyathium (cup-like) with 2–4 rayed branches; flowers are unisexual and lack a perianth. Fruits are nearly spherical capsules. Seeds are ellipsoid or obovoid, about 5 mm long, gray-brown with network wrinkles and dark spots, with a longitudinal groove (raphe) on one side. The plant grows on sunny slopes in wild or cultivated settings across central, southern, and northeastern China.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Qian jin zi shuang is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Southern China: mid to late July; northern China: early August to early September, when the fruits turn dark brown.

Primary growing regions

The best-quality (道地药材) source material comes from Henan and Zhejiang provinces. The product is distributed nationally and exported. Sichuan, Hebei, Jilin, and Liaoning also produce smaller quantities for local use.

Quality indicators

Good-quality Qian Jin Zi Shuang is a uniform, loose, light yellow powder with a slightly oily feel and a spicy, pungent taste. The fat oil content must be 18.0–20.0% per Chinese Pharmacopoeia specification. Avoid samples that are clumped, darkened, or have a rancid smell. The original seeds used for processing should be plump, with a white kernel and ample oiliness.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Qian jin zi shuang and its therapeutic uses

《开宝本草》 (Kāi Bǎo Běn Cǎo, Song Dynasty)
Original Chinese: “千金子，味辛，温，有毒。主妇人血结月闭，瘀血癥瘕，除蛊毒鬼疰，心腹结气，利大小肠。”
English translation: "Qian Jin Zi is acrid, warm, and toxic. It governs women's blood stasis and amenorrhea, fixed abdominal masses, removes gu poison and ghost-like disorders, treats epigastric and abdominal masses, and promotes bowel movement." The frost (Shuāng) retains these actions in a milder, safer form.

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Qian jin zi shuang's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

The source plant was first recorded as 续随子 (Xù Suí Zǐ) in the Song Dynasty Kai Bao Ben Cao. The name 千金子 ("Thousand Gold Seed") reflects its high therapeutic value for severe fluid retention and blood stasis disorders. The traditional frost-processing (制霜) method was developed centuries ago to remove harsh irritant oils, thus reducing toxicity while preserving its water-expelling and anti-tumor actions. This innovation made the herb safer for internal use in pills and powders, and it remains an important preparation in modern TCM for carefully selected clinical emergencies.

Modern Research

2 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Qian jin zi shuang

1

Investigation of the purgative effects of raw Qian Jin Zi and different oil-content frost powders and their principal constituent (2010)

宋卫国, 孙付军, 张敏, 虞慧娟, 李英霞. 千金子和千金子霜及其主要成分泻下作用研究. 中药药理与临床, 2010, 26(4): 40-42.

Using a constipation model in mice, the study found that raw Qian Jin Zi and frost powders with varying oil content accelerated small intestinal transit. The diterpene ester compound Euphorbia lathyris diterpene alcohol diacetate benzoate significantly increased fecal water content in constipated mice. Processing into frost moderated the purgative effect without eliminating it.

Link
2

Comparison of acute toxicity of raw Qian Jin Zi and frost powders with different oil contents (2011)

孙付军, 宋卫国, 李英霞. 千金子及不同含油量千金子霜急性毒性比较. 中国药物警戒, 2011, 8(1): 20-22.

In this acute toxicity study, mice were given oral doses of raw seeds, frost powders at 22.3%, 25.0%, and 28.4% oil, and isolated fatty oil. No LD50 could be determined because mice survived the maximum administrable doses. However, mice receiving higher oil-content frost showed earlier onset and more severe signs of toxicity (lethargy, piloerection, diarrhea). Toxicity is attributed to the fatty oil, and death is avoidable by adhering to the prescribed oil content range (18–20%).

Link

Research on individual TCM herbs is growing but still limited by Western clinical trial standards. These studies provide emerging evidence and should be considered alongside practitioner expertise.