The traditional Chinese medicinal herb, "Nv Lou Cai," is a plant that can be used both as medicine and food. However, because few people have heard of it, most people are unaware of its characteristics. Let's learn about the features of Nv Lou Cai with the help of the editor of Chinese Medicine Network!
Picture of Nv Lou Cai
According to traditional Chinese medicine, Nv Lou Cai has a taste of pungent and bitter, and has a neutral nature. It belongs to the liver and spleen meridians. It has the effects of promoting blood circulation, regulating menstruation, invigorating the spleen, and promoting diuresis. It is mainly used for the treatment of irregular menstruation, insufficient lactation, infantile malnutrition, and floating deficiency.
Nv Lou Cai is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant, 20-70 cm tall, with dense short hairs throughout the plant. The stem is erect and often branched at the base. The leaves are opposite; leaf blades are lanceolate to elliptic, 2-5 cm long and 3-8 mm wide;
The apex is gradually pointed, the base is wedge-shaped, the margin is entire, and there are dense short hairs; the upper leaves are sessile, and the lower leaves have petioles; the umbel inflorescence is umbrella-like, with 2-3 branching levels, each branch bearing 2 flowers;
The bracts are linear; the sepals are elliptic, densely covered with short hairs on the outside, with 10 veins, and 5 cleft at the apex; the petals are 5, inversely ovate, with 2 shallow lobes at the apex, and narrow into a claw at the base, with 2 scales at the throat; there are 10 stamens, and the filaments are slender; there are 3 styles.
Picture of Nv Lou Cai
The capsule is elliptic and the same length as the sepals. The seeds are numerous, small, blackish-brown, and have blunt wart-like protrusions. Nv Lou Cai grows in mountain grasslands and is distributed in most parts of China.
1. "Guizhou Herbal Medicine": "Promotes blood circulation, regulates menstruation, dispels accumulation, invigorates the spleen, detoxifies. Used for the treatment of irregular menstruation, infantile malnutrition, abscesses, and edema."
2. "Ningxia Herbal Medicine Manual": "Promotes lactation, diuretic."
Internal use: Decoction, 9-15g of Nv Lou Cai, can be used up to 30g in high doses; or powdered. External use: Appropriate amount, crushed fresh herb for topical application.
