Maocaojian is the whole grass or root of the herbaceous plant Calamagrostis angustifolia, also known as Maolingzhi. It has the effects of clearing heat, cooling blood, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain. Let's learn more about Maocaojian.
【Morphological Characteristics】
Maocaojian is a perennial herb with slender stems, reaching about 1m in height. The leaves are flat, thick, 10-20cm long, and 4-5mm wide. The upper surface is pale green and hairy, while the lower surface is green and hairless or sparsely hairy along the veins.
The spike-like inflorescence is 12-20cm long and slightly drooping. Each spike contains 3-6 florets, 12-17mm long (excluding awns), sparsely arranged, with 1-2 basal florets usually degenerating and leaving only traces.
The glumes are narrow lanceolate and asymmetric on both sides, with membranous margins. The apex is gradually pointed, smooth or slightly rough on the veins. The upper part of the outer glume has five obvious veins, and it is hairless or covered with small prickly hairs, giving a slightly rough texture. The awns are straight, coarse, and rough, 15-25mm long. The inner glume is longer than the outer glume, gradually narrowing and bluntly rounded at the apex, often slightly split, with short stiff hairs on the back and short hard hairs on the ridge, almost reaching the base.
There are 2 scales, ovate lanceolate, about 1mm long, hairless. There are 3 stamens with yellow anthers. The utricle is long and oval, reddish-brown, about 6mm long, and hairy at the apex.
【Habitat and Distribution】
Maocaojian is harvested in summer and autumn as a whole grass or root, and then dried. It grows on limestone soil at an altitude of 1600-1980m or in moist areas with water and sunshine. It is distributed in Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and other places.
【Application in Formulas】
Maocaojian has the effects of clearing heat, cooling blood, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain. It is mainly used for cough with bloody sputum, wind rash, and pain from physical exertion.
1. For cough with bloody sputum, take 15-30g of Maocaojian, decoct and drink. (From "Guizhou Folk Medicine")
2. For wind rash, take 30g of Maocaojian, decoct and drink. (From "Guizhou Folk Medicine")
3. For pain from physical exertion, soak 30g of Maocaojian root in alcohol and drink. (From "Guizhou Folk Medicine")
