Knotweed, also known as four seasons red, stone mangweed, and water hydrangea, is the dried whole grass or aboveground part of the plant of the Knotweed family. It is abundant in medicinal sources and can be harvested all year round, dried or fresh. It is mainly distributed in Guizhou, Sichuan, Jiangxi, Hunan and Yunnan and other places on the slopes of rocks and in the shade and dampness of the edge of the field. It is a commonly used folk medicinal material in mainland China, and it is also one of the characteristic Miao medicine resources in Guizhou Province.
【Trait characteristics】
Perennial herb. Stems creeping, clumped, lignified at the base, rooting nodes, internodes shorter than leaves, multi-branched, sparsely hairy or nearly glabrous, annual branches nearly erect, longitudinally ridged, sparsely hairy.
Leaves ovate or elliptic, 1.5-3 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, apex pointed, base wedge-shaped, entire, margins with glandular hairs, sparse glandular hairs on both sides, sometimes with black-brown crescent-shaped spots, petioles 2-3 mm long, sometimes with leaf ears at base, pedicels cylindrical, membranous, 5-8 mm long, loose, glandular hairs, truncated at apex, margined hairs.
Inflorescence capitate, 6-10 mm in diameter, solitary or paired, apical, peduncle with glandular hairs, bracts long ovate, membranous, peduncle very short, perianth 5 deeply lobed, reddish, tepal lobes, 2-3 mm long, stamens 8, shorter than perianth, stigma 3, middle and lower confluent, nearly equal in length to perianth, stigma capitate.
The achenes are ovate, 3-edged, 1.5-2 mm long, black-brown, densely populated, slightly shiny, and encased in a perianth. The flowering period is from June to September, and the fruiting period is from August to October.
Dried
【Sexual Taste and Return】
Bitter, hard, cold, to the kidneys, bladder.
【Functions and Indications】
Detoxification, dissipation of stasis, diuresis and drenching. Treatment of dysentery, pyelitis, cystitis, urinary tract stones, rheumatic pain, bruises, sores and eczema.
"Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine": "Dispel rheumatism, disperse stasis and relieve pain." Treatment of rheumatism, bruises. ”
"Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine": "Detoxification and anti-inflammatory." Treatment of dysentery, skin ulcers, nameless swelling and poison. ”
"Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine": "Clear heat and diuretic, clear drenching." ”
【Dosage】
Internal: decoction, 0.5~1 tael.
External use: pounding, decoction, or boiling ointment.
【Application Appendix】
☆ Treatment of rheumatic pain: decoction of knotweed. Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine
☆ Treatment of dysentery: two taels of head flower knotweed, decoction in water, twice a day. Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine
☆ Treatment of hematuria and cystitis: one or two fresh head flowers, decoction in water. If the bleeding stops and the urination is still painful, add 15 cents of snake powder and decoction with water. Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine
☆ Treatment of sores and leprosy ulcers: one pound of head flower knotweed, five taels of nine miles of ming, five taels of creepers, and five taels of eucalyptus leaves. Fry the water into a paste, add plum slices and stir well. Apply to the affected area(s) once daily. Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine
☆ Treatment of pyelonephritis, urethral stones, bruises: five to one tael of head flower knotweed, decoction. Selected Chinese Herbal Medicines of Yunnan
【Examples of over-the-counter medicines】
1. Hot rinsing
Composition of the drug: Knotweed.
Function and indications: clear away heat and relieve fire, diuretic and drenching. It is used for hot showers caused by dampness and heat in the lower scorch, and the symptoms are frequent urination, urgency, and painful urination, and urinary tract infection and pyelonephritis are seen in the above syndromes.
2. Secretion granules
Composition of the drug: Rhizome, sorrel, plantain, peppercorn.
Function and indications: Functional indications: clearing heat and detoxifying, diuretic and drenching. It is used for gonorrhea, poor urination, dripping and astringent pain, and urinary tract infection caused by dampness and heat.
3. Four seasons grass grains
Composition of the drug: knotweed, plantain.
Function and indications: clear heat and detoxify, diuretic and drenching. It is used for poor urination and short urine caused by damp heat accumulation.
Author: Xie Yingna, chief pharmacist of the Southern Theater General Hospital
Reviewer: Ji Bo, Chief Pharmacist, Southern Theater General Hospital, Guangdong Pharmaceutical Association