Gu Jing Cao, also known as Dai Xing Cao, Zhen Zhu Cao, Man Tian Xing, and Wa Er Duo Cao. It is recorded in the book "Ben Cao Shi Yi". It is the dried inflorescence of the plant Eriocaulon buergerianum Koern. in the family Eriocaulaceae. It is harvested in autumn by pulling out the inflorescence along with the stem and sun-drying it.
[Processing Method] "Tai Ping Sheng Hui Fang": "Cut into small pieces." "Burn to ash." "Lei Zheng Huo Ren Shu": "Remove the roots." "Pu Ji Fang": "Wash off the soil." "Paper bake." "Shen Shi Yao Han": "Grind into powder." "De Pei Ben Cao": "Mix with breast milk or child's feces and steam." Currently, the original medicinal material is taken, the roots and impurities are removed, cut into sections, and the ash is sieved out.
[Appearance of the medicinal slices] It is irregularly segmented, and the inflorescence is hemispherical with tightly arranged layers of bracts at the bottom. The bracts are light yellow-green and glossy. When the inflorescence is crushed, numerous black anthers and small yellow-green mature fruits can be seen. The flower stem is slender, soft in texture, with a slight aroma and a mild taste.
[Processing effects] Gu Jing Cao has a spicy and sweet taste, and is neutral in nature. It belongs to the liver and lung meridians. It has the effects of dispelling wind, clearing heat, improving vision, and reducing opacity. It is used for red and opaque eyes, shy and teary eyes, astigmatism, headache, nasal congestion, throat obstruction, toothache, wind rash, itching, and other conditions. For example, the Gu Jing Cao Tang (Shen Shi Yao Han) is used to treat liver fire with red and swollen eyes; the Gu Jing Cao San (Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng) is used to treat opaque eyes after ulceration; the Gu Jing Cao San (Sheng Ji Zong Lu) is used to treat headache caused by cerebral wind. Gu Jing Cao is commonly used in clinical practice. After processing, it can clean the medicinal material, making it convenient for dispensing and formulation. In the past, it was also used with breast milk or child's feces, as mentioned in "De Pei Ben Cao": "Treat post-smallpox opacity with breast milk or child's feces mixed and steamed."
