Xia Ku Qiu (Prunella vulgaris) — Dried Self-Heal Flower Spikes, Food Herb for Tea & Soup

Xia Ku Qiu (Prunella vulgaris) is the dried flower spike of a traditional food herb known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Xià Kū Qiú (夏枯球), also called Self-Heal or Prunella Spike. For centuries, Xia Ku Qiu has been prized as a cooling, fire-clearing herb used to disperse stagnation, soothe the Liver, and support clear, comfortable days. Its nature is bitter, pungent, and slightly cold, making it a refreshing yet focused herb for cooling internal heat and harmonizing the Liver channel.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional Liver-soothing food herb
• Dried Xia Ku Qiu flower spikes
• Prunella vulgaris
• Suitable for tea, decoction, and soup
• Hand-processed, new-crop quality

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is carefully hand-selected and dried to preserve the spike's deep purple-brown color, dense layered texture, and mild herbal aroma. When brewed or decocted, the spikes release a light amber infusion with a gently bitter, faintly sweet taste and a clean, refreshing finish that softens as it cools.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Herbal tea and daily infusion
• Chinese-style decoction
• Soup and broth ingredient
• Seasonal cooling tea blends
• Herbal pairing with chrysanthemum or honeysuckle

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Xia Ku Qiu is decocted alone or blended into cooling teas, summer soups, and seasonal tonics. It is a common ingredient in traditional summer tea formulas, where it pairs with chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, or mulberry leaf. As a daily tea, it is brewed to support a light, refreshed feeling during warm seasons and is often simmered into broths for gentle, everyday nourishment.

FAQ Q&A