Can Imperata root be used to treat nosebleeds?

Nov 26, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Lu Cheng

Introduction

Imperata root (Bai Mao Gen) is generally used to alleviate mild nosebleeds caused by lung heat or excessive internal heat. However, it is not effective for nosebleeds resulting from trauma, blood disorders, or those involving significant blood loss. In daily life, maintain indoor humidity, avoid aggressive nose picking, eat a light diet low in spicy foods, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. For mild nosebleeds associated with internal heat, Bai Mao Gen decoction may be used as a supportive remedy.

Imperata root (Bai Mao Gen) generally helps alleviate mild nosebleeds caused by lung heat or excessive internal heat. However, it is not effective for nosebleeds resulting from injuries, blood disorders, or those involving significant blood loss. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Bai Mao Gen is neutral in nature and sweet in taste, possessing properties of cooling the blood, stopping bleeding, clearing heat, and promoting body fluid production. For nosebleeds triggered by dry climate, staying up late, or consuming spicy foods—conditions characterized by excessive internal heat—or for nasal mucosa dryness and bleeding due to lung heat, drinking a decoction made from Bai Mao Gen can help clear heat, cool the blood, reduce mucosal congestion, and thereby relieve bleeding symptoms. In such cases, the amount of bleeding is usually small and easily controlled, and the effect of Bai Mao Gen tea becomes more noticeable.

If nosebleeds are caused by local structural issues such as nasal trauma or deviated septum, or are related to coagulation disorders or low platelet count, the regulatory effect of Bai Mao Gen is limited. Especially when the bleeding is heavy, persistent, or accompanied by symptoms like dizziness and pallor, targeted treatment addressing the underlying cause is necessary. Relying solely on Bai Mao Gen will not resolve the issue and may delay timely medical intervention.

In daily life, maintain indoor humidity, avoid forceful nose picking, eat a light diet with minimal spicy food, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. When experiencing mild heat-related nosebleeds, Bai Mao Gen tea may be used as supportive care, along with applying pressure to the nostrils to stop bleeding and minimizing nasal irritation.

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What should reed rhizome (bai maogen) be combined with to treat kidney disease?

In traditional Chinese medicine, kidney disease is often associated with downward infiltration of damp-heat, deficiency of the spleen and kidneys, and blood stasis blocking the channels. Imperata root (Bai Mao Gen) clears heat, promotes urination, cools the blood, and stops bleeding; when combined with other herbs, it can enhance therapeutic effects. Commonly used clinical combinations include Poria (Fu Ling), Astragalus (Huang Qi), Salvia (Dan Shen), Plantago seed (Che Qian Zi), and Atractylodes (Bai Zhu). Kidney disease management requires treatment based on pattern differentiation, and the above herbal combinations should be used only under professional guidance. In daily life, patients should avoid overexertion and control their intake of salt and protein.