Ku Shen Slices (Sophora flavescens) — Dried Bitter Root Decoction Pieces, 500g

Ku Shen Slices (Sophora flavescens) are the dried root slices of a well-known traditional herb known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Kǔ Shēn (苦参), also called Bitter Sophora Root or by its folk name Dì Kuí (地魁). For centuries, Ku Shen has been prized as a bitter, cold, drying herb traditionally used to clear heat, dry dampness, and address patterns of damp-heat and itching. Its nature is bitter and cold, entering the Heart, Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine, and Bladder channels, making it a focused herb in traditional formulas rather than a casual daily tea.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional bitter, cold herb for clearing heat and drying dampness
• Dried Sophora flavescens root slices (decoction pieces)
• Known in TCM as Ku Shen (苦参), folk name Di Kui (地魁)
• Large-cut slices, 500g per pack, sold by weight
• Food agricultural product, 24-month shelf life at room temperature

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is sliced into large, firm pieces that show a pale yellowish-brown surface with a fibrous, woody texture typical of Sophora root. The dried slices carry a faint, earthy, slightly bitter aroma. When decocted, they yield a deeply bitter, yellow-tinged infusion with a dry, astringent finish — a flavor profile that reflects its traditional bitter-and-cold character and is usually balanced with other herbs in a formula.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Traditional herbal decoctions in combination formulas
• External wash or soak preparations in folk practice
• Herbal foot soak blends
• Ingredient in custom herbal formulas guided by a practitioner
• Bulk supply for herbal shops and formulators

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Ku Shen is decocted in combination with other herbs to address damp-heat patterns, and is also traditionally used in external washes and foot soaks. It appears in classical formulas alongside herbs such as Huang Bai, Bai Xian Pi, and She Chuang Zi, where its bitter, drying nature is balanced within a larger formula. Because of its strong bitter-cold character, it is rarely brewed as a standalone daily tea and is more commonly used under the guidance of a TCM practitioner.

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