Wind-Damp-Dispelling, tendons-Soothing and Collaterals-Activating Herbs
Xi Xian Cao (Glandularstalk St.Paulswort Herb)
Naming
Xi Xian Cao (Herba Siegesbeckiae)——Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica)
The Processing of 豨莶草
Origin
The aerial parts of annual herbaceous plant Siegesbeckia orientalis L. , S. pubescens Makino or S. glabrescens Makino of family Compositae.
Location
Most areas of China.
Harvest
Collected before or during blossom in summer and autumn.
The actual smell and taste
Light smell and slightly bitter taste.
Best quality
Dryness, thick stems, leafiness, big and immature branches, flower bud without blossom and bright green in color.
Processing
Cut into segments, unprocessed or steamed with yellow rice wine for use.
The Effect of 豨莶草
Property
Pungent, bitter, cold; liver and kidney meridians entered.
Actions
Dispel wind-damp, unblock collaterals, clear heat and remove toxicity.
Indications
A. Arthralgia syndrome due to wind-damp
Being pungent and bitter with the actions of dispersing and dryness, it can dispel wind-damp, unblock collaterals and ease joint movement. The raw products with cold natures are suitable for arthralgia syndrome due to wind, dampness and heat, and often combined with wind-damp-dispelling and heat-clearing herbs, such as Qin Jiao and Fang Ji. Being warm in nature after prepared with wine, it has the actions of tonifying liver and kidney, and indicated for arthralgia syndrome due to wind and dampness which is manifested by weakness of the tendons and bones, soreness and weakness of waist and knees and numbness of four extremities; it is usually combined with chou Wu Tong. For windstroke manifested by numbness, wry eyes and mouth and hemiplegia, it is often combined with collaterals-unblocking, qi-replenishing and blood-nourishing herbs, for example, Qi She, Wei LingXian, Huang Qi and Dang Gui, etc.
B. Eczema, sore and abscess
The raw products with bitter and cold natures can clear heat-toxin and dispel damp-heat. It can be used singly for oral administration or topical washing, and can also be combined with wind-dispelling, dampness-removing and itching-relieving herbs, such as Bai Ji Li, Di Fu Zi and Bai Xian Pi. For sore and abscess marked by red swelling and burning pain, t can be combined with heat-clearing and toxicity-removing herbs, for example, Pu Gong Ying and Ye Ju Hua, etc.
Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 10~12g. Proper dosage is for topical administration. For arthralgia syndrome due to wind, dampness and cold and hemiplegia, it should be used after preparation; for arthralgia syndrome due to wind, dampness and heat, eczema and sore and abscess, it should be used without preparation
Sources and further reading
We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.
- Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
- Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
- NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.
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