What is Sinianghuang? How should we use it?
Sinianghuang, also known as Seashine, Long Tuzhu, and Jiulong Tuzhu, is the whole grass of the plant Parthenium hysterophorus in the Asteraceae family. It is mainly distributed in Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and other regions in China. So what exactly is Sinianghuang? And how should we use it?
【What is Sinianghuang?】
Sinianghuang is an annual or biennial herb that is hairless. It has clustered stems with four edges, reaching a height of 10-30 centimeters, and is slightly pale green-white in color.
The leaves are opposite, ovate to narrow lanceolate, measuring 1-2.5 centimeters in length and 5-15 millimeters in width. The apex is pointed or slightly blunt, the base is rounded, and the leaf margin is entire, papery, and sessile.
The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils, with a pedicel measuring 2-3 centimeters in length and no bracts. The calyx is divided into five lanceolate segments, measuring 4-6 millimeters in length and ending in a sharp point.
The corolla is typically greenish-purple, occasionally red, with a diameter of 1-1.3 centimeters. It has five lobes that are inverted-ovate and often slightly hairy at the edges. There are five stamens with hairy filaments and a superior ovary with thread-like styles.
The whole plant is wrinkled, the stem has four edges with a diameter of about 1mm, and the surface is yellowish-brown and hairless. The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils. The calyx is often deeply divided to the base, with five lanceolate or fusiform lobes, and the corolla is pale red and deeply divided into five parts.
The capsule is spherical, measuring about 4 millimeters in diameter. The seeds are dark brown and densely covered in warty protrusions. The flowering period is from March to May.
【Medicinal Value】
Taste: Bitter, sour, warm; attributed to the liver meridian.
Efficacy: Dispels wind and dispels cold; activates blood circulation and detoxifies. It is mainly used for rheumatism, yin syndrome sores, and snake or rabid dog bites.
Usage: Internal use: Decoction, 9-15g, or 15-30g of fresh product; or pounded juice. External use: Apply an appropriate amount of fresh product.
Toxicity: There is a significant difference in toxicity to livestock (sheep), but the reason for this is unknown.
Pharmacological effects: Only certain parts of its extracts have antifungal effects.
Clinical applications: It is used to treat snake or rabid dog bites by ingesting the juice and applying the residue to the affected area. It is also used for yin syndrome sores and rheumatism.
