Red shin powder is the whole herb of Polygonum hydropiperoides or Polygonum chinense, which belongs to the family Polygonaceae. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, activating blood circulation, and reducing swelling. It can treat various diseases. Now let's learn about the efficacy and function of red shin powder together.
【Medicinal Value of Red Shin Powder】
In terms of medicine, Chinese medicine believes that red shin powder has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, activating blood circulation, and reducing swelling. It is mainly used to treat dysentery, leukorrhea, blood heat headache, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, breast abscess, and bruises.
Red shin powder has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and blood-activating effects. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the aqueous solution of the alcoholic extract of red shin powder has a significant effect on certain species of dysentery bacilli and has strong antioxidant activity.
Treatment of mastitis: Mash the whole herb of red shin powder or potatoes and wild buckwheat, and apply it externally with wine residue.
Taboos: Avoid taking it if you have weak qi and deficiency in superficial appearance; avoid excessive consumption for those with stagnant qi, which may lead to irregular menstruation in women; pregnant women should be cautious and avoid medication during pregnancy to prevent fetal malformation.
【Morphological Characteristics of Red Shin Powder】
Red shin powder is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Polygonum genus in the family Polygonaceae. It grows in clusters and has a head-like inflorescence. Red shin powder likes light and shade, and is resistant to cold and barren soil.
Red shin powder is not only used as ground cover, but also widely used in modern Chinese-style gardens to add a touch of traditional charm.
The flowers and leaves of red shin powder also have some unique markings. In spring, the young branches, leaf stalks, and leaf veins are purplish-red, while the mature leaves in summer are green with rust-red spots in the center and pale purplish-red edges.
In addition to color, the most distinctive feature of red shin powder is that the base of the leaves has a pair of round lobes with purple-black markings on top.
【Planting Methods of Red Shin Powder】
1. Cultivation techniques
Propagate by division and seeds, with division as the main method. From the time the plant dies back in winter until it emerges in spring, dig up the rhizomes and divide them into individual plants, leaving buds and roots on each plant.
When planting, turn over the soil, create raised beds 1.3m wide, and dig holes with a row and plant spacing of about 33cm. Plant 2 plants per hole, fill the soil tightly, apply animal or livestock manure and wood ash, and finally cover with fine soil to level with the bed surface.
2. Field management
After planting, cultivate and weed three times a year. The first weeding is done in March just after emergence, the second in June to July, and the third when the plant dies back in winter, after cutting off the withered stems and leaves, and then mound soil for winter. For the first and second fertilization, animal or livestock manure is the main source, and for the third fertilization, wood ash or compost can be applied.
