San Xiaocao is the whole herb of the leguminous plant white clover. White clover is a perennial herb with creeping stems that can root anywhere along the stem. It is commonly used to treat epilepsy, bleeding hemorrhoids, and fast-growing tumors.
Morphology: White clover is a perennial herb, 15-20cm tall. The stems are creeping, with no hair, and can root wherever they touch the ground. The leaves are trifoliate, with long petioles up to 10cm long. Each leaf has 3 leaflets, which are inversely ovate to inversely heart-shaped, 1-2cm long and 1-1.5cm wide. The apex is round or depressed, the base is broadly wedge-shaped, the margins are finely toothed, the upper surface is hairless, and the lower surface is slightly hairy. The stipules are elliptic and clasping the stem. The inflorescence is head-like, with a long peduncle; the calyx is tubular, with triangular calyx teeth shorter than the calyx tube, covered with fine hairs, and with membranous edges; the corolla is white or pale red, with elliptic standard petals with short claws, rounded tips, and shorter wings than the standard petals, and the keel petals are slightly longer; the ovary is linear and the style is long and curved. The fruit is linear, enclosed in the membranous calyx. The seeds are small, 3-4 in number, and yellow-brown. The flowering and fruiting period is from May to October.
Dosage: For internal use, decoct 15-30g of the herb. For external use, use an appropriate amount and apply as a poultice.
Benefits of San Xiaocao
San Xiaocao has the effects of clearing heat, cooling blood, and calming the mind. It is mainly used to treat epilepsy, bleeding hemorrhoids, and fast-growing tumors.
Actions of San Xiaocao
① Treating epilepsy (neurological disorder): Take one or two liang of San Xiaocao, decoct it in water, and drink the decoction. Also, use five qian of San Xiaocao to make a poultice and apply it on the patient's forehead to make them awake.
② Treating bleeding hemorrhoids: Take one or two liang of San Xiaocao, decoct it in a mixture of alcohol and water, and drink the decoction. (The properties and tastes are based on "Guizhou Folk Medicine")
