Xishai grass is the aboveground part of the plants Xishai, glandular petiole Xishai, or hairy petiole Xishai in the Asteraceae family. It is mostly found in wild wastelands and prefers moist environments. The whole plant can be used as medicine and is effective in treating rheumatic pain, weakness of the tendons and bones, and other conditions.
Xishai grass picture
【Plant Characteristics of Xishai Grass】
It is mostly found in wild slopes, roadsides, and wastelands, and has strong adaptability. It prefers warm and moist environments and grows well in fertile clay and sandy loam rich in humus, with high yields. However, excessive soil moisture can cause root rot. It is not suitable for cultivation in low-lying and waterlogged areas.
Harvest and storage: Harvest before flowering in summer and autumn, remove impurities, and dry.
Preparation methods:
Xishai grass: Remove impurities, wash, slightly moisten, cut into sections, and dry.
Wine-infused Xishai grass: Take clean Xishai grass sections, steam thoroughly according to the wine-steaming method. Use 20kg of yellow wine for every 100kg of Xishai grass.
Xishai grass picture
【Medicinal Formulas of Xishai Grass】
1. Stroke: Harvest Xishai branches and leaves in summer, wash them, steam them nine times, but avoid excessive dryness. Grind them into powder, mix with honey, and make them into pill-like shapes, about the size of a wuzi fruit. Take two to three dozen pills on an empty stomach, drink warm wine and rice soup afterwards. Take three to five spoonfuls of food to help the medicine go down. Take it continuously for several months to see results. This formula is called "Xianwan".
2. Cold-induced diarrhea: Grind Xishai grass into powder, mix with vinegar and paste to make pills, about the size of a wuzi fruit. Take thirty pills with plain water. This formula is called "Huo Xianwan".
3. Carbuncles and swellings: Grind one or two liang of Xishai grass, one or two liang of frankincense, and half a liang of alum (burned) into powder. Take two qian (unit of weight) with hot wine. For severe cases, take three times, and sweating indicates effectiveness.
4. Boils on the back: Grind Xishai grass, Fiveleaf Grass (Polygonum multiflorum), Xaoji, and garlic equally, mash them, add a bowl of hot wine, squeeze out the juice, and take it. Sweating indicates effectiveness.
5. Nausea and vomiting: Bake Xishai grass, grind it into powder, mix with honey to make pills, about the size of a wuzi fruit. Take fifty pills with hot soup.
Xishai grass picture
【Taboos in the Use of Xishai Grass】
Xishai grass has a bitter and cold nature and has the function of eliminating damp-heat. Therefore, it should be used with caution by those without rheumatism, and it is particularly suitable for conditions that are more inclined towards damp-heat.
1. Avoid use by those without rheumatism.
2. Avoid use by those with insufficient yin and blood.
3. "Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "Excessive intake can cause vomiting."
4. "Annotation on Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "For patients with limb paralysis, bone pain, and weakness of the waist and knees caused by deficiency of spleen and kidney, insufficient yin and blood, and not due to rheumatism, it is not suitable for use."
5. "Compendium of Materia Medica Notes" states: "Avoid iron."
