In spring, the green color covers the wild, and people like to go out for outings. Do you know that many of the wild grasses by the roadside are actually traditional Chinese medicine? Tianpengcao, also known as the whole plant of the Caryophyllaceae plant Paronychia argentea. It is distributed in Northeast China, East China, Central China, Southwest China, as well as Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai and other places. It has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation and reducing swelling, detoxifying and stopping bleeding.
The original form is a perennial herbaceous plant, 15-30cm tall. The stem is slender, forming a cluster, with the lower part lying flat and the upper part sparsely branched, green or purplish. Single leaves grow opposite to each other; they are stalkless; leaf blades are oval or lanceolate, 5-20mm long, 2-3mm wide, gradually pointed at the tip, gradually narrowing at the base, with entire or shallowly wavy margins, and both sides are hairless. The inflorescence is umbel-like, terminal or axillary; the flower stalks are slender and long like silk in winter; the bracts and bracteoles are smaller; the sepals are lanceolate, with pointed tips, membranous margins, and smooth surfaces; the petals are white, about the same length as or slightly shorter than the sepals, with 2 deep splits reaching the base; there are 5 stamens; the ovary is ovoid, with 2-3 styles. The capsule is slightly longer than the persistent sepals, and splits into 6 segments when mature, containing numerous seeds. The seeds are kidney-shaped, brown, with wrinkled and raised surfaces. Flowering period is from April to November, and fruiting period is from June to December.
Morphological identification: The whole plant is 15-30cm tall and dirty green. The leaves are opposite, with complete leaf blades that are oval or lanceolate, 5-20mm long, 2-3mm wide, gradually pointed at the tip, and have entire or shallowly wavy margins. The inflorescence is umbel-like, terminal or axillary; the sepals are 5, lanceolate, with pointed tips and smooth surfaces; the petals are 5, white, with 2 deep splits; there are 5 stamens; there are 2-3 styles. The capsule is about the same length as the persistent sepals and splits into 6 segments when mature. It has a slight odor and a mild taste.
Efficiency of Tianpengcao
Tianpengcao is pungent in taste and neutral in nature.
It enters the Lung and Spleen meridians.
Functions of Tianpengcao
Dispels wind and dampness, promotes blood circulation and reduces swelling, detoxifies and stops bleeding. It is mainly used for colds, diarrhea, dysentery, rheumatism, bruises, fractures, boils and carbuncles, hemorrhoids, snake bites, vomiting blood, bleeding, and external bleeding from injuries.
Dosage: Internally, decoct 6-9g in water. Externally, apply an appropriate amount by grinding or pounding.
