Sang Ye
Morus alba L.
☯ TCM Properties
Disperses Wind-Heat; Clears Heat and Moistens the Lungs; Clears Liver Heat and Brightens the Eyes; Calms the Liver and Subdues Yang; Cools the Blood and Stops Bleeding
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Morus alba L. (Moraceae) is a fast-growing, deciduous tree native to northern China and now widely naturalized and cultivated, typically reaching 10 to 20 meters tall with a short trunk and a broadly spreading, rounded crown. The bark is pale gray-brown, becoming furrowed with age. The leaves are alternate, simple, broadly ovate to nearly orbicular, 5 to 15 cm long, with a cordate or rounded base, an acute to acuminate tip, and coarsely toothed or shallowly to deeply lobed margins; juvenile and coppice shoots often bear strongly lobed leaves while mature shade leaves are entire. The upper surface is glossy bright green, slightly rough, and the lower surface is paler with hair tufts in the vein axils. The species is monoecious or dioecious, with small greenish flowers in pendulous catkins; the fruit is a cylindrical multiple of small drupelets 1 to 2.5 cm long, ripening white, pink or dark purple. The mature leaves, picked after the first frost, are Sang Ye.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 3-9g | Daily | — | — | — |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
Sang Ye (mulberry leaf) is a cool, bitter-sweet herb renowned for its ability to dispel Wind-Heat from the exterior and clear Heat from the Lungs. It addresses the early stages of Wind-Heat invasion with fever, headache, and sore throat, and its moistening quality helps with dry Lung coughs. A secondary action on the Liver makes it helpful for red, irritated eyes with swelling or excessive tearing. Light and gentle, it is a common household remedy throughout China.
Traditional American Uses
The Cherokee used Morus alba bark medicinally in several preparations. An infusion of the bark was taken for worms as an anthelmintic, and an infusion of the bark was also taken to "check dysentery" as an antidiarrheal (Hamel and Chiltoskey 1975, Cherokee Plants and Their Uses -- A 400 Year History, p. 45). The bark infusion was used as a purgative and was also taken as a laxative (Hamel and Chiltoskey 1975, p. 45). The fruit was used for food (Hamel and Chiltoskey 1975, p. 45).
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.