Chishang powder, also known as Sanxuecao, is produced in places like Mount Lu in China. It is best sown in spring and harvested in summer. It has the effect of clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting blood circulation, and reducing swelling. Let's take a look at the efficacy and function of Chishang powder.
Characteristics of Chishang powder:
The rhizome of Chishang powder is slender and reddish-brown, with swollen nodes and numerous fibrous roots. The stem is cylindrical, thin and weak, slightly flattened, branching at the upper part, pale green or slightly reddish-brown, hairy or nearly hairless; hollow inside when cut.
The calyx is white or pink, with 5 petals, about 2 mm long; 8 stamens, about 1 mm long, united with the calyx below the middle, with yellow anthers; 3 styles united below the middle, with a head-shaped stigma, equal in length to or slightly protruding from the calyx.
The leaves are ovate, elongated ovate, or triangular ovate, 5-8 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, gradually pointed at the apex, nearly truncate or slightly heart-shaped at the base, extending down to the petiole, with 1-3 pairs of inwardly concave circular lobes on both sides;
dark purple triangular markings on the upper surface; sheath tubular, membranous, brown. The inflorescence is terminal, composed of several head-like inflorescences; corolla white or pink. Chishang powder has a mild aroma and a slightly astringent taste.
The fruit is spherical-triangular, about 2 mm in diameter, slightly pointed at the apex, brown, with small protuberances on the surface, enclosed in the persistent calyx. It flowers from June to July and fruits from July to September.
Efficacy and function of Chishang powder:
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Chishang powder has the effect of clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting blood circulation, and reducing swelling. It is used to treat dysentery, leukorrhea, headache due to heat, irregular menstruation, breast abscess, and injuries from falls.
1. "Compilation of Folk Commonly Used Herbs": "Clears heat from the three burners. Treats dizziness."
2. "Hunan Materia Medica": "Analgesic."
3. "Practical Selection of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Guangxi": "Reduces swelling and detoxifies. Treats snake bites, abscesses, unknown swellings, and mastitis."
4. "Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicine in Sichuan": "Clears heat, promotes blood circulation. Treats internal injuries, headache due to heat, irregular menstruation, cough due to deficiency fire, dysentery, abscesses, and ulcers."
Planting method of Chishang powder:
Chishang powder grows in clusters. In spring, the young branches, petioles, and leaf veins are reddish-purple. In summer, the mature leaves are green with rust-red spots in the center and pale purple-red edges. The stem is slender and purple, with nodes. The leaves are alternately arranged, ovate-triangular in shape;
the base often has 2 rounded lobes resembling arrowheads, with purple-black markings on the upper surface. There is a tubular membranous sheath at the leaf stalk, and the inflorescence is head-like, with small pink or white flowers. It flowers from July to August and produces black oval fruits after blooming.
Growth habits: It prefers light but can tolerate shade, cold and poor soil.
Cultivation environment: Chishang powder is suitable for planting in flower beds, roadside areas, or under sparse forests.
Cultivation tips: It can be propagated by sowing or dividing. Division can be done in spring or autumn, and sowing is best done in spring. It is a robust plant that requires minimal management. It is advisable to provide partial shade and clear the withered parts in autumn and winter for new growth in the following spring.
