Hair Grass, a traditional Chinese medicine, is the whole plant of the plantain family plant Hair Grass, distributed in Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places. It has the effects of promoting digestion, clearing liver fire, and clearing damp heat. It is commonly used for pediatric food retention, red and swollen eyes, damp heat diarrhea, hepatitis, scrofula, abscesses, and snake bites. Today, the editor of Chinese Medicine and Chinese Medicine Network will introduce to you the efficacy, function, and identification of Hair Grass!
[The efficacy and function of Hair Grass]
According to traditional Chinese medicine, Hair Grass has the effects of promoting digestion, clearing liver fire, and clearing damp heat. It is used to treat pediatric food retention, red and swollen eyes, damp heat diarrhea, hepatitis, scrofula, abscesses, and snake bites.
[Collection and processing]
Hair Grass is harvested in summer, autumn, and winter, washed, used fresh or dried.
[Habitat distribution]
Hair Grass grows in grasslands near fields, slopes, and villages. It is distributed in Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places.
[Identification]
Hair Grass is about 20-40cm long. The stem is thin and slightly hard, with branches, green, with a diameter of about 2mm, and longitudinal veins on the surface. Fine root hairs grow on several nodes near the base, and the nodes are slightly swollen. The stem is brittle and easily broken, with a yellow-white color on the cut surface and a pith-like appearance.
The leaves are opposite, green, and when fully expanded, they are narrowly lanceolate, 3-5cm long and 1-2cm wide, with entire margins and short petioles. The spike-like inflorescence is short, terminal or axillary, flattened, and green, resembling a cockroach.
The capsule is ovoid or elongated, about 3mm long. Each chamber contains two seeds. It has a mild aroma and a bland taste. Leaves with many flowers and spikes, and a green color are preferred.
