The Chinese herb, Centipedegrass, has the functions of dispelling wind, promoting blood circulation, detoxification, and insecticidal. It is used for the prevention and treatment of influenza, dysentery, rheumatism, and injuries from falls; externally for treating centipede bites and scabies. What is the method of using Centipedegrass to treat rheumatism and numbness?
Image of Centipedegrass
[Treating Rheumatism and Numbness with Centipedegrass]
For treating rheumatism and numbness, 15g of Small Cow Rib, 9g of Small Blood Vine, 9g of Umbrella Plant (one umbrella) are soaked in alcohol and taken orally. (From "Sichuan Materia Medica" in 1982)
Efficacy of Centipedegrass
Nature: Mild; Bitter; Cool
Actions: Dispels wind and dampness; Relaxes tendons and activates collaterals; Detoxifies and kills insects. It is used for rheumatic joint pain; lower back pain; limb numbness and difficulty in flexion and extension; hemiplegia; injuries from falls; influenza; dysentery; breast abscess; sores; scabies; pinworm infection; snake bites.
[Ecological Habits of Centipedegrass]
1. Climate
Centipedegrass prefers a warm climate, with optimal growth temperature of 24-26°C during the day and 15-21°C at night.
2. Sunlight
It prefers bright scattered light, but can also tolerate weak light conditions.
3. Humidity
It requires an air humidity of 50% to 60%.
4. Soil
It prefers loose and well-drained neutral or slightly acidic soil. It is not cold-tolerant but relatively drought-tolerant and can tolerate poor soil fertility.
[Morphology of Centipedegrass]
It is a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 1.3-2m. The rhizome is short and covered with linear lanceolate yellow-brown scales, with a reticular style. The leaves are clustered, with leaf stalks 10-30cm long, erect, and turning brown when dry. The leaf stalks, leaf axes, and rachises are all covered with linear scales; The leaves are either broadly oval or lanceolate, 10-100cm long, 5-30cm wide, with pinnately compound leaves; The leaflets are sessile, linear, 4-20cm long, 0.5-1cm wide, with the middle leaflet being the longest, gradually tapering at the tip, serrated at the tip, truncate or slightly cordate at the base, and sometimes slightly auriculate, with the lower leaflets gradually decreasing in length; The leaves are subleathery, hairless on both sides, with a single vein or once forked. The sporangia are linear, and the sporangial covers are narrow and membranous, brownish-yellow.
