Chinese medicine Chishang San is a plant of the Polygonum genus in the family Polygonaceae, which is used in its root and whole plant form. It is harvested in the summer and autumn, washed and sliced, and can be used fresh or dried. It is also known as Snakehead, Blood Angelica, Lacking Waist Leaf, Red Ze Orchid, Flower Butterfly, Red Soap Medicine, and Blood Dispersion Pill. How is Chishang San cultivated?
Chishang San is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Polygonum genus, with a clustered inflorescence. It thrives in sunlight but can also tolerate shade, and is resistant to cold and poor soil conditions.
Chishang San is not only used as ground cover, but also creatively incorporated into many modern Chinese-style gardens to enhance their charm.
The flowers and leaves of Chishang San have some unique markings. In spring, the young branches, petioles, and leaf veins are purple-red, while the mature leaves in summer are green with rust-red spots in the center and pale purple-red edges.
In addition to its color, Chishang San has one prominent feature: a pair of round ears at the base of its leaves, with purple-black markings on top.
Chishang San is often a wild plant, similar to another plant of the Polygonum genus called Hot Coal Mother. However, in recent years, Chishang San has been used more in gardens.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Chishang San has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, activating blood circulation, and reducing swelling. It is used to treat dysentery, leukorrhea, blood heat headache, excessive menstruation, amenorrhea, breast abscess, and injuries from falls and blows.
1. "Guangxi Practical Selection of Chinese Medicinal Herbs": "Eliminates swelling and detoxifies. Treats snake bites, boils, unknown swellings, and mastitis."
2. "Sichuan Commonly Used Chinese Medicinal Herbs": "Clears heat, activates blood circulation. Treats internal injuries, blood heat dizziness and headaches, excessive menstrual bleeding, amenorrhea, cough due to deficiency fire, dysentery with red and white discharge, abscesses and ulcers."
3. Treatment for mastitis: Mash the whole plant or mix it with potatoes and buckwheat, and apply it externally with wine lees.
It is indeed recorded in Chinese herbal compilations that Chishang San has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and blood-activating properties. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the aqueous extract of Chishang San has significant effects on a certain type of dysentery bacteria and strong antioxidant activity.
Contraindications: Avoid in cases of weak qi and deficiency. People with stagnant qi should consume it in moderation, as excessive consumption can lead to menstrual irregularities in women. Pregnant women should use caution and avoid taking it during pregnancy to prevent fetal developmental disorders.
