Shi Xi Cao, also known as Xi Xi, Xian Geng Xi Xi, or Mao Geng Xi Xi, refers to the dried aerial parts of the chrysanthemum family plants Shi Xi, Xian Geng Xi Xi, or Mao Geng Xi Xi. It has high medicinal value and can be used to treat rheumatism, lumbago, and other diseases. There are two methods of planting Shi Xi Cao, direct sowing and seedling transplantation. Let's learn more about them below.
Shi Xi Cao Image
【Efficacy and Function of Shi Xi Cao】
1. Dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation
Used for rheumatism, Shi Xi Cao has the effect of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation, and benefiting the joints. It is often used in combination with Dang Gui, Wu Jia Pi, Hai Feng Teng, etc. It can also be ground into powder and steamed with wine to make pills with honey.
Used for sequelae of stroke, hemiplegia, and numbness of limbs, Shi Xi Cao can promote blood circulation and regulate Qi and blood. It is often used in combination with Huang Qi, Dang Gui, Di Long, etc.
2. Eliminating dampness and heat, relieving itching caused by wind
Used for skin rashes and itching, Shi Xi Cao can be used in combination with Bai Xian Pi, Cang Er Zi, etc.
3. Treating malaria
Used for malaria, 30g of Shi Xi Cao is decocted in water and taken in two doses.
Shi Xi Cao Image
【Medication Recommendations and Contraindications of Shi Xi Cao】
Shi Xi Cao has the effect of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain. When used raw, it tends to be cold. It is good at eliminating dampness and heat, so it is particularly suitable for patients with rheumatism and damp-heat syndrome.
If used together with Chou Wu Tong, it is called Xi Tong Wan in "Collection of Health Experience"; when used alone to treat wind-cold-damp bi syndrome or stroke paralysis, it is made into pills by steaming with wine and taken with warm wine, which is recorded in "Compilation of Prescriptions for Living People" as Xi Xi Wan.
Recommended for: Shi Xi Cao is suitable for people with rheumatism, weak tendons and bones, weak waist and knees, stroke, facial paralysis, hemiplegia, skin rashes, damp sores, bites from insects or animals, malaria, jaundice, and other conditions. It is especially suitable for patients with damp-heat bi syndrome.
Contraindications: Not suitable for people without rheumatism.
Expert advice: Shi Xi Cao is suitable for use in its raw form for clearing heat and detoxification, and for use in processed form for dispelling wind and dampness and promoting blood circulation. It is best to store it in a well-ventilated and dry place to avoid mold and affect its efficacy.
Shi Xi Cao Image
【Methods of Planting Shi Xi Cao】
1. Cultivation Techniques
Shi Xi Cao is propagated by seeds and can be grown from seedlings or sown directly.
Growing from seedlings: After autumn harvest, plow the land to a depth of about 20cm. Before the Grain Rain season of the following year, plow the land again. Apply 75,000-105,000kg of compost per hectare and level the land to make ridges.
Sowing: Use 3.75kg of seeds per hectare, cover with 1-1.5cm of soil, and water after sowing. Seedlings will emerge in 15-17 days, and when they reach a height of 5-10cm, thin them to a spacing of 5cm. In the northern regions, land should be prepared after the wheat harvest.
Fertilization: When the seedlings reach a height of about 30cm, transplant them into ridges. Plant two rows per ridge, with a row spacing of 45cm and a plant spacing of 30cm.
Sowing directly: 10 days before the Grain Rain season, dig trenches between rows in the wheat field, with a depth of 3cm and a soil coverage of 2cm. Use 7.5kg of seeds per 4 hectares, and water after sowing. After the wheat harvest, when the seedlings reach a height of 7-10cm, thin them to a row spacing of 45cm and a plant spacing of 30cm.
2. Field Management
For direct sowing, water and weed the field when the seedlings reach a height of 6-10cm. When the seedlings reach a height of 30-45cm, apply organic fertilizer or cake fertilizer, and water after application. Alternatively, apply 75kg of ammonium sulfate per hectare. Keep the soil moist during the plant's growth period.
