The whole plant of the legume plant Tian Zao Jiao is used as medicine. It grows in moist areas or near water and is mainly used to clear heat, dispel wind, promote diuresis, and detoxify.
[Botanical Description] Tian Zao Jiao is an annual semi-shrub herbaceous plant that can grow up to 1 meter tall.
The stem is erect, cylindrical, with many light green branches in the upper part, soft in texture, and hollow. The compound leaves are pinnate and arranged alternately, with 20-30 pairs of linear leaflets, and a prominent midrib on the back.
The inflorescence is axillary, with 1-4 flowers, and has bracts and bracteoles; the calyx is two-lipped, with 2 teeth on the upper lip and 3 teeth on the lower lip; the corolla is butterfly-shaped, yellow, with a round vexillum and a slightly curved keel;
There are 10 stamens, 2 bodies (5+5); the ovary is stalked, linear, and the style is filiform with a terminal stigma. The fruit is linear and flattened.
When mature, the fruit splits into 4-8 segments, each containing 1 seed. The seeds are kidney-shaped, dark brown and glossy. The flowering period is in summer and autumn, and the fruit ripens in October to November.
It grows in wetlands or near water. It is distributed in North China, Southeast China, and Southwest China.
[Medicinal Properties and Functions of He Meng]
It has the effects of clearing heat, dispelling wind, promoting diuresis, reducing swelling, and detoxification. It is used to treat wind-heat colds, jaundice, dysentery, gastritis, abdominal distension, gonorrhea, carbuncle, dermatitis, and eczema.
① "Ben Cao Shi Yi": "It is used for treating hot and painful urination, childhood diseases, and improving vision. It has diuretic and anti-diarrheal effects. It can be taken by juicing and drinking."
② "Zhi Wu Ming Shi Tu Kao": "It dispels wind and kills insects."
③ "Tian Bao Ben Cao": "It dispels wind and relieves swelling. It is used to treat infantile malnutrition, jaundice, and applied to abscesses."
④ "Classification of Medicinal Herbs": "It treats fire-related swelling. Steamed with chicken, it can promote diuresis and relieve urinary problems."
⑤ "Commonly Used Chinese Medicinal Herbs Manual of Guangzhou Troops": "It clears heat and resolves stagnation. It is used to treat gastrointestinal bloating, indigestion, gastric pain, wind-heat colds, eczema, and dermatitis."
⑥ "Jiangxi Medicinal Herbs": "It clears heat, promotes diuresis, reduces swelling, and stops bleeding."
[Dosage and Administration] Oral administration: Decoction, 9-15 grams; or used in powdered form. Topical application: Poultice or decoction for washing.
[Medicinal Recipes Using He Meng]
① Treatment for difficult urination: 9-15 grams of He Meng. Decoction for oral administration. ("Shanghai Commonly Used Chinese Medicinal Herbs")
② Treatment for jaundice: 150 grams of fresh Tian Zao Jiao. Decoction for daily consumption. ("Jiangxi Medicinal Herbs")
③ Treatment for carbuncle: 9-15 grams of He Meng. Decoction for oral administration. ("Shanghai Commonly Used Chinese Medicinal Herbs")
