Small Paspalum, also known as Stachyurus himalaicus Hook.f.et Thoms., Chinese Stachyurus (S.chinensis Franch.), or Helwingia japonica (Thunb.)Dietr., is a stem pith of the family Stachyuraceae. It is recorded in the "Sichuan Chinese Medicine Chronicle". In autumn, the stems are harvested, cut into sections, and the pith is extracted while fresh, straightened, and dried naturally.
[Processing method] Take the original medicinal material, remove impurities, and cut into sections.
[Characteristics of medicinal slices] They are small cylindrical pieces of varying lengths, with a white or light yellow surface. The cross-section of Small Paspalum is flat, without hollows, and has a silver-white luster. It is light, soft in texture, and can be deformed and broken easily when squeezed. It feels sticky and slippery when soaked in water, odorless, and tasteless. The surface of Helwingia japonica has shallow longitudinal stripes. It is harder in texture and not easily deformed when squeezed. It does not feel sticky and slippery when soaked in water.
[Processing function] Small Paspalum has a sweet and mild taste, and a cooling nature. It enters the lung, stomach, and bladder meridians. It has the functions of clearing heat, diuresis, and promoting lactation. It is mostly used in the treatment of fever and thirst, dark yellow or red urine, oliguria or anuria, acute cystitis, nephritis, edema, urinary retention, and lack of milk secretion. It can be decocted together with Herba Hedyotidis diffusae and Semen Plantaginis (wrapped in cloth) for the treatment of acute urethritis (Anhui Chinese Medicine Chronicle); or decocted with Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis for the treatment of insufficient lactation (Gansu Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine). Processing makes the medicinal material clean and facilitates the extraction of ingredients and adjustment.
