Lysimachia clethroides

botanical

What is it

Lysimachia clethroides (gooseneck loosestrife) is a perennial herb native to East Asia, used in traditional Chinese medicine, primarily for pain, swelling, and menstrual disorders. It is botanically distinct from the more commonly used Lysimachia christinae (jin qian cao).

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Pain and inflammation (traditional use)

Mixed

Traditional use; no controlled clinical trials in humans.

How it works

The plant contains triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Preclinical studies have noted anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antimicrobial activity for specific saponins isolated from related Lysimachia species, but specific mechanisms in humans are not characterized. There is essentially no published controlled human clinical trial evidence for L. clethroides for any indication.

Dosage

No established RDA. Traditional dosing of dried herb is roughly 9-15 g per day in decoction or as part of a polyherbal formula. No clinical standard exists.

When and how to take it

Taken in 2-3 divided daily doses as part of a TCM decoction. No evidence-based time-of-day preference.

1 commercial form

Dried whole herb

Active compound absorption not characterized.

Traditional preparation.

Safety

Limited modern safety data. Traditional use suggests reasonable tolerability. Saponins can cause GI upset at higher doses.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient data. Use caution if on prescription medications, particularly because identity of commercial 'Lysimachia' products can be variable.

Interactions

No significant interactions reliably reported, but data are sparse.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as Lysimachia christinae?⌄

No. They are different species in the same genus. L. christinae (jin qian cao) is more commonly used in modern TCM products.

Is there clinical evidence?⌄

Essentially none in humans; existing evidence is preclinical.

References

  • Lysimachia clethroides on Wikidata — Wikidata link
  • Lysimachia clethroides on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link
  • Research on Lysimachia clethroides (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.