Wuxiangcao, also known as Five Spice Herb, has the effects of relieving exterior conditions, clearing heat, regulating qi, and alleviating pain. It is used for colds, heat stroke, lumbago, stomachache, sore throat, boils, and centipede bites. It is also known as Tuxiangru, Xiaoye Xiangru, Shayaocao, Xiaoye Tianxiangyou, and Wild Herb. Wuxiangcao is the whole plant of the Lip-leafed Suzhou Herba Houttuyniae, a plant of the Labiatae family.
[Plant Morphology of Wuxiangcao]
Wuxiangcao is an annual aromatic herb, 30-40 cm tall, with many branches. The stem is square, sparsely covered with short pubescent hairs.
Leaves are opposite, lanceolate, 2-3 cm long, 5-8 mm wide, gradually pointed at the apex, wedge-shaped at the base, with sparse serrations, smooth, and densely glandular on the lower surface; petiole is 5 mm long.
The lax inflorescence is terminal; bracts are very small, nearly circular, with short pointed tips; flowers are about 6 mm long; calyx is bell-shaped, 5-lobed, covered with short hairs; corolla is pale red, twice as long as the calyx, upper lip erect with a notch, lower lip 3-lobed, with the central lobe being the largest;
There are 4 stamens, with the posterior stamens or upper stamens being developed, slightly protruding from the corolla, 2 divergent anthers, with the anterior stamens or lower stamens being degenerate; pistil is 1, ovary deeply 4-lobed, style slightly protruding, 2-lobed, with unequal stigma.
Small nuts are brown, round, reticulated, with tiny glandular dots, and a distinct hilum at the base. Flowering period is from September to October. Fruiting period is from October to November.
[Identification]
Wuxiangcao is the dried whole herb. The stems are slender, square-cylindrical, with many branches, 20-42 cm long, gray-green to purple in color, and covered with downward pubescent hairs. The texture is rough. The leaves are opposite, curled and wrinkled, and become linear-lanceolate or lanceolate when flattened, 1.5-3 cm long, 2-5 mm wide, with short pubescent hairs and glandular dots on both sides.
The flowers of Wuxiangcao are wrinkled and clumped together, with small bracts only 1.5-2.5 cm long and pale purple corollas. The small nuts are spherical, with a black-brown surface and fine reticulations. It has a strong aromatic odor and a pungent and cooling taste.
[Effects and Functions of Wuxiangcao]
Wuxiangcao has the effects of relieving exterior conditions, regulating qi, and alleviating pain. It is mainly used for colds, tonsillitis, lumbago, and stomachaches.
① "Zhejiang Folk Medicinal Plants": "Expels stagnation and regulates qi. Treats stomachaches and lumbago."
② "Hangzhou Medicinal Plants": "Treats colds and hemoptysis."
"Zhejiang Commonly Used Folk Medicinal Plants": "Relieves exterior conditions, reduces inflammation, diuresis, and analgesia. Treats tonsillitis, centipede bites, boils, ulcers, heat stroke, colds, and stomachaches."
