Kanger Lao, also known as Su Bai Fa and Gu Zi Bai Fa. Recorded in "Shanxi Medicinal Herbs". It is a fungus of the smut family, Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc.) Schroet., which parasitizes on millet to produce diseased spikes. It is harvested in summer and autumn, and then dried.
[Processing Method] Take the original medicinal material, remove impurities, and sift away the soil.
[Appearance of the herbal pieces] The spike is shaped like a mink's tail, pale yellow to yellowish-brown in color, and often has short inflorescence stalks at the base. The entire spike is covered with diseased leaf-like structures, which are lanceolate or split into filamentous shapes. When rubbed by hand, it can disperse brown powdery substances. The texture is loose. It has a slightly fishy odor and a mild astringent taste.
[Processing effects] Kanger Lao has a mild and slightly cold nature. It has the function of clearing and benefiting damp-heat. This herb is mostly used to treat edema, urinary retention, restlessness, thirst, diarrhea, eczema, and sores. When decocted with fresh bamboo leaves, it can treat urinary retention ("Chinese Medicinal Fungi"); when decocted with cotton root water, it can treat floating edema and restlessness and thirst ("Qingdao Medicinal Herbs Handbook"); when Kanger Lao is stir-fried until charred, ground into powder, and applied to the affected area, it can treat eczema and sores. After being processed, the purity of the medicine can be improved.
