Ditancao, as a traditional Chinese medicine, has the effects of clearing heat, cooling blood, detoxifying, and eliminating dampness. It is commonly used for colds, tonsillitis, pharyngitis. Let's learn about the effects and functions of Ditancao as well as the verification methods.
【Effects and functions of Ditancao】
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Ditancao has the effects of clearing heat, cooling blood, detoxifying, and eliminating dampness. It is commonly used for colds, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, pertussis, conjunctivitis, jaundice, nephritis edema, irregular menstruation, leukorrhea, eczema, and snake bites.
"Selected Compilation of Guangxi Characteristic Chinese Medicinal Resources": "Clears heat, detoxifies, diuresis, and reduces swelling."
【Morphology of Ditancao】
Ditancao is a perennial herb, 15-40cm tall, with the whole plant covered in white coarse hairs. The rhizome is short, with numerous fibrous roots, yellowish-white when fresh and grayish-yellow when dried.
The leaves are mostly basal, spoon-shaped or oblong-lanceolate, 3-16cm long, 1-3.5cm wide, with slightly obtuse serrations on the edges, and both sides covered with gray-white coarse hairs.
It flowers in summer and autumn, with slightly stout peduncles and inflorescences in the form of sparse umbels, with leaf-like bracts at the branching points. The inflorescences have 2 rows of bracts, with the outer layer purple and all tubular flowers; the corolla is pale purple. The fruit is angular, usually with 6 long and hard spines at the apex.
【Verification methods of Ditancao】
1. Various inflammatory diseases (bacterial dysentery, colds, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, acute gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, conjunctivitis, etc.): Take 30g of Ditancao, 15g each of Yexiazhu, Dijin, and Tuerfeng, decoct in water and take 1-2 doses per day. Ditancao can also be used alone.
2. Jaundice hepatitis, pertussis: Take 60g of the whole plant of Ditancao, decoct in water and take.
3. Lung heat cough: Take 30g each of Ditancao and Feixingcao, decoct in water and take.
4. Breast pain, swelling and toxicity, finger therapy, ulcers, eczema, snake bites: Take 60-120g of fresh Ditancao, decoct in water and take; also use an appropriate amount of fresh Ditancao, a little wine residue, mash and apply externally or decoct with water for external washing.
5. Acute otitis media: Take the whole plant of fresh Ditancao, mash the juice and apply to the ear, 3-4 times a day.
