Diding grass is a kind of traditional Chinese medicinal material that can clear heat and detoxify. It is the whole herb of the Papaveraceae plant Diding Zijin. It has strong adaptability and prefers a warm and slightly cool climate. It can be grown in clay, loam, and sandy loam soils. Let's learn about the efficacy and functions of Diding grass below!
Image of Diding grass
【Morphology of Diding grass】
Purple-flowered Diding is a perennial herb, 7-15 cm tall, with the whole plant covered in white short hairs. The main root is thick and yellow-white. The leaves grow in clusters from the base of the plant; the leaf stalk is 3-10 cm long, with slight wings on both sides at the upper part;
The stipules are membranous, linear-lanceolate, attached to the leaf stalk; the leaf blades are long elliptic, ovate-lanceolate to linear broadly lanceolate, 2-9 cm long, 0.5-3.5 cm wide, blunt at the apex, shallowly cordate or truncate at the base, and with shallow obtuse teeth along the edges.
The flowers are axillary, pale purple, with a diameter of about 1.5 cm; the pedicel is 4-1.0 cm long, with 2 linear bracts in the middle; there are 5 sepals, lanceolate, with round accessory structures below the calyx;
There are 5 petals, inverted ovate-elliptic, with one larger petal at the bottom, the base extending into a long bag-shaped or cylindrical spur, about 7 mm long; there are 5 stamens, with fused anthers, wide connectives, surrounding the ovary, and short and wide filaments;
The bases of the two lower stamens have accessory glands, which extend into the spur; the ovary is superior, with 3 carpels, 1 chamber, numerous ovules, 1 style, and 3-lobed stigma.
The capsule is elongated, about 1 cm long, divided into 3 fruit valves, each valve with ridges and grooves, and with persistent calyx at the base. The seeds are oval, brownish-yellow, and smooth. The flowering period is from March to April, and the fruiting period is from May to August.
【Efficacy and functions of Diding grass】
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Diding grass has the efficacy of clearing heat and detoxifying, and is mainly used to treat high fever and restlessness in warm diseases, influenza, infectious hepatitis, nephritis, scrofula, mumps, carbuncle, and other suppurative infections.
1. "Liaoning Common Chinese Herbal Manual": "Clears heat and detoxifies. Used for boils, carbuncles, and lymph node tuberculosis."
Image of Diding grass
2. "Hebei Chinese Herbal Manual": "Used to treat acute infectious hepatitis."
3. "Highland Chinese Herbal Treatment Manual": "Anti-inflammatory and detoxifying. Used to treat jaundice hepatitis, high fever, and restlessness."
【Compatibility and application of Diding grass】
Diding grass with chrysanthemum: has the function of clearing liver and brightening eyes. Used for symptoms such as liver heat, redness, swelling, and pain in the eyes.
Diding grass with wild chrysanthemum: enhances the function of clearing heat and detoxifying. Can be used for snakehead carbuncle, red thread carbuncle, and swollen abscesses.
Diding grass with dandelion: has the function of detoxifying, promoting diuresis, dispersing masses, and eliminating carbuncle. Can be used for mastitis, carbuncle, and abscesses.
Diding grass with honeysuckle and wild chrysanthemum: enhances the function of clearing heat and detoxifying. Can be used for carbuncle, mastitis, intestinal abscess, erysipelas, and other hot toxic sores.
Diding grass with dandelion and Yinchenhao: has the function of clearing heat, eliminating dampness, promoting bile flow, and reducing jaundice. Can be used for jaundice, high fever, and restlessness.
