Many traditional Chinese medicinal herbs are often referred to as "wild vegetables" in rural areas. These wild vegetables not only can be cooked into delicious dishes, but also have medicinal properties for regulating the body and treating diseases. So let's talk about the pharmacological effects and methods of consuming Xi Sha Cao.
Xi Sha Cao
Pharmacological effects of Xi Sha Cao
1. Anti-inflammatory effects
Bitter taste and acid, 50mg/kg per day, orally for 10 days. It has been proven to have anti-inflammatory effects through protein heat coagulation method and rat paw swelling method.
2. Hypotensive and vasodilating effects
In cat experiments, Xi Cao decoction has a hypotensive effect with a duration of about 1.5 hours. Its ethanol-water extract is also effective.
Xi Cao extract can dilate the rabbit ear blood vessels with preserved nerves and block the vasoconstrictive response caused by nerve stimulation. However, it does not have a vasodilating effect on isolated rabbit ear blood vessels.
It is believed that its vasodilating effect is produced by inhibiting the sympathetic vasoconstrictive nerves. Xi Cao extract cannot counteract the vasoconstrictive effect of norepinephrine, so it does not act on the adrenergic receptors of vascular smooth muscle.
3. Effects on the immune function of mice
Xi Cao decoction was boiled for 3 hours, three times, and the concentrated decoction was reduced to 1ml containing 1g of raw herb. Mice were randomly divided into three groups with two groups each, and the experimental group was orally administered with Xi Cao decoction 0.2ml once a day.
The control group was given an equal amount of sterile saline in the same way.
The first group of mice was given the decoction for 6 days and injected with 6% starch broth 1.0ml into the abdominal cavity on the 4th day. On the 7th day, the percentage of macrophages phagocytizing chicken red blood cells, phagocytic index, serum lysozyme activity, and absolute lymphocyte count were measured.
The second group of mice was given the decoction for 7 days and injected with 20% sheep red blood cells 0.2ml into the abdominal cavity on the 2nd day of administration. On the 8th day, serum antibody titer and cellular DNA and RNA acridine orange fluorescence staining on blood smears were measured.
The third group of mice was given the decoction for 7 days, and on the 8th day, the forming rate of EA and ET rosettes, thymus and spleen weights were measured. The results are shown in Table 1 and Table 2, indicating that Xi Cao has inhibitory effects on cellular immunity, humoral immunity, and non-specific immunity.
Xi Sha Cao
4. Effects on thrombus formation in rabbits
Ten rabbits were randomly divided into Xi Cao (I) group and Weinaolutong group for intravenous administration. The wet weight of the thrombus before administration in the I group (38.28±16.16mg) was significantly different from that after administration (18.60±5.34mg) (P<0.05, n=5).
The wet weight of the thrombus before administration in the Weinaolutong group (45.25±13.91mg) was significantly different from that after administration (22.98±8.94mg) (P<0.01, n=5). Both of them have inhibitory effects on thrombus formation, with an inhibition rate of 51.41% for the former and 49.22% for the latter.
5. Effects on mesenteric microcirculation in mice
Xi Cao injection (I) and compound Salvia miltiorrhiza injection (II) have significant effects on the restoration of blood flow in the mesenteric microcirculation of mice after obstruction (P<0.01). The effects of 0.6g/ml (raw herb) solution of I and 0.3mg/ml (raw herb) solution of II on blood flow recovery are equivalent.
6. Antibacterial and antimalarial effects
The agar well diffusion method proved that Xi Cao is highly sensitive to Staphylococcus aureus, mildly sensitive to Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sonnei, and Salmonella typhi, and has inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus albus, Candida albicans, Enterobacter cloacae, and swine cholera bacillus.
Xi Cao decoction has a 90% inhibition rate on Plasmodium berghei when administered orally to mice at a dose of 100g/kg.
7. Other effects
Xi Cao contains alpha-tocopherol, which has antioxidant properties. The 90% methanol extract of Xi Cao has an ACE (Angiotensin-convertinenzyme) inhibition activity of 30-40%. Xi glycoside has a significant anti-early pregnancy effect on rats at a dose of 20-40mg/kg.
Xi Sha Cao
Method for consuming Jiuzhi Xi Sha Cao Medicinal Liquor
Ingredients: 72g of Jiuzhi Xi Sha Cao, 110g of Fang Ji, 80g of Haifeng Vine, 80g of fried Atractylodes, 80g of Qian Nian Jian, 80g of Chen Pi, 80g of Wei Ling Xian, 80g of Du Zhong, 80g of pinecone, 80g of Dang Gui, 80g of Chuan Niu Xi, 80g of Shen Jin Cao, 80g of Chuan Duan, 80g of Shu Di Huang, 80g of Sang Ji Sheng, 80g of Qian Cao, 80g of fried Bai Zhu, 80g of Fang Feng, 80g of Gou Ji, 80g of Mu Gua, 80g of Qin Jiao, 80g of Du Huo, 80g of Di Feng Pi, 80g of Chuan Xiong, 80g of Zhi Ru Mo, 80g of Hong Hua, 130g of Yu Zhu, 60g of Rou Gui, 20g of Ma Huang, 4500g of brown sugar, and 25 liters of white wine.
Usage: Put all the above 29 ingredients into a wine jar, add wine, seal it and soak it. Stir once a day for the first week, and once a week thereafter. After soaking for about a month, filter out the clear liquid, and press and filter the residue. Dissolve the brown sugar in a small amount of white wine, and filter to obtain the final product. Take 20ml three times a day.
Effect: Expels wind and dampness, promotes joint movement, nourishes the kidneys, activates blood circulation, and regulates the blood vessels. It is used for liver and kidney insufficiency, bone pain and weak knees, limb paralysis, sore lower back and weak legs, facial and eye deviation, and speech difficulties.
Source: "Yao Jiu Yu Gao Zi"
