Cattail Flag (Typha)
Typha
Western Herbalism
Western Herbalism

Cattail Flag

Typha

Also known as Cattail, Cattail rush, Reed mace, Bulrush (informal).

CoolingDryingneutralTaste: SweetTaste: Astringent

Typha is a genus of tall wetland reeds, commonly called cattail, found in marshes and pond margins across temperate regions worldwide. American Eclectic physicians used the soft down surrounding the seed head as a simple, absorbent wound dressing and valued the fine pollen shed from the male spike as a topical and internal astringent for bleeding. The starchy rhizome has long served as a food and mild demulcent, while related Asian species supply the pollen used in Chinese medicine under the name Pu Huang.

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Actions

HemostaticAstringentVulneraryDemulcentAnti-inflammatoryDiureticEmollientMild analgesic (topical)

Indications what the tradition reached for it in

Specific indications

Fresh bleeding wound with the pollen dusted directly on to stop oozing quickly

Dysmenorrhea with dark clotted flow and a sensation of pelvic congestion

Safety

Pregnancy: Avoid therapeutic internal use in pregnancy because of its traditional blood-moving and uterine-stimulating reputation, though topical use of the down for minor wound care is not considered a concern.

The record lists 3 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.

In practice

The most distinctive use of cattail in older American practice was practical rather than showy: the down was gathered in late summer and packed directly onto burns, scalds, and weeping wounds, where its softness and mild astringency helped protect the area and encourage drying.

Dosing as the sources wrote it

PreparationAs writtenMetric
Pollen, internal3-9 g dried pollen daily, wrapped in cloth and added to decoction3000-9000 mg
Tincture (1:5, pollen)2-4 mL 1:5 tincture three times daily2-4 mL
TopicalPollen or down applied directly to clean wounds, burns, or chafed skin as needed

Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.

From the sources

Overview. Typha is a genus of tall wetland reeds, commonly called cattail, found in marshes and pond margins across temperate regions worldwide. American Eclectic physicians used the soft down surrounding the seed head as a simple, absorbent wound dressing and valued the fine pollen shed from the male spike as a topical and internal astringent for bleeding. The starchy rhizome has long served as a food and mild demulcent, while related Asian species supply the pollen used in Chinese medicine under the name Pu Huang.

Clinical Notes. The most distinctive use of cattail in older American practice was practical rather than showy: the down was gathered in late summer and packed directly onto burns, scalds, and weeping wounds, where its softness and mild astringency helped protect the area and encourage drying.

Drawn from King's American Dispensatory, 18th edition (Felter and Lloyd), and the Bountiful Herbs editorial.

In formulas

Cattail Flag stands in 12 documented formulas in the library, among them yán hú suo tāng, shào fu hú yu tàng, shi xiào sǎn, xiǎo jì yin zi, lu páo sǎn.

Often paired with

ReishiGanoderma lucidumLicorice rootGlycyrrhiza glabraDong QuaiAngelica sinensisWhite PeonyPaeonia lactifloraIndian bay leafCinnamomum tamalaPeachPrunus persica

Nearby on the shelf

Cat's ClawUncaria tomentosaCatalpaCatalpa bignonioidesCaterpillar fungusCordyceps sinensisCatnipNepeta catariaCayenneCapsicum frutescensCeanothusCeanothus thrysiflorusCelandineChelidonium majusCeleryApium graveolens

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