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 Lightyellow Sophora Root. For centuries, Ku Shen has been prized as a bitter, cold, drying herb traditionally used to clear heat, dry dampness, and address damp-heat patterns affecting the lower body and skin. Its nature is bitter and cold, entering the Heart, Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine, and Bladder channels, making it a focused herb in traditional formulas for damp-heat conditions.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional bitter, cold herb for clearing heat and drying dampness
• Dried root slices (decoction pieces) from Henan origin
• Sophora flavescens — authentic Ku Shen
• 500g new-crop batch, full weight guaranteed
• Suitable for decoction, external washes, and herbal formulas

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is sliced and dried to preserve its pale yellowish-brown color, firm fibrous texture, and characteristic earthy, slightly bitter aroma. When decocted, the slices yield a deeply bitter, yellow-tinged infusion with a dry, astringent finish — a sensory profile that reflects the herb's traditional bitter-cold nature.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Traditional herbal decoction
• External wash or soak in TCM practice
• Herbal formula ingredient
• Dried slice storage for long-term use
• Custom grinding into powder

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Ku Shen is decocted alone or in combination with other herbs to address damp-heat patterns, and is also traditionally used in external washes and soaks for skin and lower-body concerns. It appears in classic formulas alongside herbs such as Huang Bai, Bai Xian Pi, and She Chuang Zi. Because of its intensely bitter profile, it is typically used in smaller proportions within a formula rather than as a daily single-herb tea.

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