Throat grass is an annual herbaceous plant, 8-15 centimeters tall, covered with white fine hairs. It blooms in April and bears fruit in May. Throat grass has the functions of dispelling wind, clearing heat, reducing swelling, and detoxifying. It is used to treat sore throat, mouth ulcers, and conjunctivitis.
Picture of throat grass
[Botanical Characteristics of Throat Grass]
Throat grass is an annual herbaceous plant, 8-15 centimeters tall, covered with white fine hairs.
The leaves grow in rosettes from the base, with slender stems; the leaf blades are nearly circular, about 15 millimeters in diameter, slightly heart-shaped at the base, with rounded toothed edges, green on the upper surface, sometimes partially purplish-red.
The flower stems emerge from the rosette, with 3-7 branches and 5-7 umbels at the top, arranged in an umbellate inflorescence; the calyx is green, deeply divided into 5 lobes, and persistent; the corolla is white, with the lower part fused into a short tube and the upper part divided into 5 lobes, spreading outward; there are 5 stamens; the ovary is spherical, with inconspicuous styles.
The fruit is spherical, 2-3 millimeters in diameter, and splits into 5 lobes when mature. There are numerous small, brown seeds. It blooms in April and bears fruit in May.
It grows in grasslands, along roadsides, and in pastures. It is widely distributed, with wild populations found from Hebei in the north to Guangdong and Yunnan in the south, and from Sichuan and Qinghai in the west.
[Benefits and Functions of Throat Grass]
Throat grass has the functions of dispelling wind, clearing heat, reducing swelling, and detoxifying. It is used to treat sore throat, mouth ulcers, conjunctivitis, corneal opacity, migraines, toothache, rheumatism, asthma, abnormal menstruation, carbuncles, bruises, and burns.
① "Classification of Medicinal Herbs": "Detoxification. It is used to treat snakebites, various types of urinary disorders, apply topically for carbuncles caused by fire, and use the juice to remove swelling and poison."
② "Chinese Medicinal Plants": "Used to treat sore throat and bruises caused by falls."
Picture of throat grass
③ "Collection of Folk Medicinal Recipes in Guizhou": "Fresh fruit juice can be applied to the eyes to treat eye heat and corneal opacity; the whole plant is used to treat bruises, muscle and bone pain, and lower back pain; it is externally used for snakebites, burns, and carbuncles."
④ "Compilation of Common Folk Medicinal Herbs": "Used to treat migraines and toothaches."
⑤ "Folk Medicinal Herbs in Guiyang": "Used to dispel wind and clear heat, treat fatigue-related lower back pain, and relieve sore throat and mouth ulcers."
⑥ "Sichuan Medicinal Herb Records": "Used to treat spermatorrhea, abnormal menstruation, and weakness caused by cold and dampness in the lower body."
[Prescriptions Using Throat Grass]
① Used to treat sore throat and oral ulcers: Apply a fine powder of throat grass to the affected area.
② Used to treat bruises or prolonged sitting-related lower back pain: Mix one or two throat grasses, five qian (15 grams) of xiantao grass, and one qian (3 grams) of luantoufa. Soak in half a jin (250 grams) of alcohol. Take twice a day, with each dose not exceeding one or two throat grasses.
③ Used to treat hemoptysis: Take three qian (9 grams) of throat grass, grind into powder, and swallow with liquor.
④ Used to treat leukorrhea: Take one or two throat grasses and one or two qian (3-6 grams) of bitter bamboo. Add three small bowls of water and boil into two bowls of soup. Divide into three doses and take each dose. (Prescription ① is from "Folk Medicinal Herbs in Guiyang")
⑤ Used to treat rheumatic joint pain: Take five qian (15 grams) of throat grass, boil in water, and take orally. ("Guizhou Medicinal Herbs")
⑥ Used to treat migraines, toothaches, and conjunctivitis: Take three qian (9 grams) to one or two throat grasses, boil in water, and take orally. ("Common Medicinal Herbs in Shanghai")
⑦ Used to treat asthma: Take fresh Tianxing grass, two to four taels (60-120 grams), boil in water, and take orally. ("Yunnan Medicinal Herbs")
