Purple pearl leaf is a common hemostatic traditional Chinese medicine. It is the dried leaves of the plant Pu Gong Ying in the Asteraceae family. It has the functions of cooling blood, stopping bleeding, dispersing stasis, detoxifying, and reducing swelling. Let's learn more about the medicinal uses of purple pearl leaf!
Differences between Purple Pearl Leaf and Purple Pearl Grass
Purple Pearl Grass:
(1) Also known as purple pearl or hemostatic grass, it is a plant in the Asteraceae family. The roots and leaves are used as medicine. The leaves of purple pearl grass are bitter, astringent, and have a neutral nature.
(2) The leaves of purple pearl grass are opposite, and the leaf shape is usually elongated or lanceolate. In summer and autumn, purple flowers will bloom in the leaf axils of purple pearl grass, which will later form spherical fruits that turn purple-red when ripe.
Purple Pearl Leaf:
(1) Purple pearl leaf is the dried leaves of the plant Pu Gong Ying in the Asteraceae family. It is harvested in summer and autumn and then dried. It has a bitter and astringent taste, and a cooling nature. There is not much difference in their medicinal effects.
(2) Purple pearl leaves often appear wrinkled and curled, and some may be broken. Intact purple pearl leaves are usually oval-shaped. The petiole is about 0.5-1.5 centimeters long, with a wide wedge-shaped or blunt round base, and fine serrations on the edges, near the base.
Medicinal Value of Purple Pearl Leaf
Purple pearl leaf contains a large amount of tannins, flavonoids, and some natural neutral resins and sugars. These substances can increase the number of platelets and shorten bleeding time.
Purple pearl leaf has the ability to eliminate Escherichia coli and has an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus. It has good medicinal value and can be used for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory purposes.
Its main effects are hemostasis, heat-clearing, and detoxification. In daily life, purple pearl leaf can be used to treat bleeding diseases and has certain benefits for stopping bleeding. It can also improve the body's immunity and has astringent properties.
Purple pearl leaf can stop bleeding and has a good therapeutic effect on digestive tract bleeding and respiratory tract bleeding caused by blood heat. For treatment, take ten to fifteen grams of purple pearl leaf, boil it with water, and take it orally.
In addition, purple pearl leaf can also be used externally for the treatment of snake bites. It can be applied topically to reduce inflammation and pain, and also has detoxifying properties.
Methods of Application of Purple Pearl Leaf
1. For gastrointestinal bleeding: Take 3-5 minutes of dried purple pearl leaf powder. Mix it with cold boiled water and take it every four hours. Then, take 2 qian (around 6 grams) of dried purple pearl leaf powder, boil it with water, and drink it as a substitute for tea.
2. For hemoptysis: Take 5-7 minutes of dried purple pearl leaf powder. Mix it with egg white and take it every four hours. Then, take 2 qian (around 6 grams) of dried purple pearl leaf powder, boil it with water, and drink it as a substitute for tea.
3. For bleeding wounds: Take fresh purple pearl leaves, wash them with cold boiled water, and crush them to apply to the wound. Alternatively, use powdered dried purple pearl leaves to apply to the wound and cover it with sterilized gauze.
4. For sore throat: Take one or two liang (around 30-60 grams) of fresh purple pearl leaves, wash them, boil them with two bowls of water, and drink one bowl. Alternatively, brew it into tea and drink it regularly.
5. For persistent bleeding after tooth extraction: Dip a cotton ball in powdered purple pearl leaf and pack it into the extraction site.
