The Chinese medicine Xiqiancao mainly grows in warm and humid places such as mountain slopes, roadsides, and wastelands. It is mainly produced in Fujian, Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang and other places. Xiqiancao is commonly used for rheumatism, weakness of tendons and bones, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, paralysis of limbs, hemiplegia, and wind rash and damp sores. Now let's learn about the methods of using Xiqiancao to treat joint pain!
[Methods of using Xiqiancao to treat joint pain]
It is used for wind-damp arthralgia, joint pain, numbness and weakness of limbs, etc. This herb is pungent, dispersing, bitter, and dry. It disperses wind and dampness in the tendons and bones, and relieves pain caused by blockage. When used raw, it tends to be cold and is good at resolving damp heat. It is especially suitable for those with hot-type wind-damp arthralgia.
If used together with Choutong, it becomes Xitong Pill in the "Collection of Health Experience". It is used to treat wind-cold-damp arthralgia or wind-stroke paralysis. If used alone, it is steamed with wine to make pills, and taken with warm wine. This is Xiqian Pill in the "Compilation of Prescriptions for Living People".
Xiqiancao has the function of removing dampness and promoting blood circulation in the meridians. When used in combination with Danggui, Wujia bark, and Haifeng vine, it has significant effects on rheumatic paralysis and rheumatoid arthritis.
It can also dispel wind-heat and detoxify. If there is eczema on the skin and itching occurs, a small amount of Xiqiancao can be taken to relieve itching.
Taking 30 grams of Xiqiancao decoction can also treat malaria, with significant effects and minimal side effects.
China has a long tradition of soaking herbs in alcohol. Various precious herbs can be soaked in alcohol, and Xiqiancao is no exception. It not only has the effect of dispelling cold, but also has a more significant effect on clearing the meridians and dispelling wind and dampness.
Xiqiancao can also play a significant role in cooking. A small amount of Xiqiancao can be added to soup during cooking. Since it does not have a strong smell, the medicinal effect can be infused into the soup without being noticed.
[The morphological characteristics of Xiqiancao]
Xiqiancao is an annual herb, 50-100 cm tall. The stem is erect and often purple. The branches are densely covered with gray-white long soft hairs and purple-brown glandular hairs. The leaves are opposite, petiolate, broadly ovate or ovate-triangular, 9-14 cm long, 4-9 cm wide;
The base is wedge-shaped, extending downward to form a winged petiole, the apex is pointed, and the leaf margin has irregular serrations. Both sides are densely covered with long soft hairs; usually the upper leaves gradually become smaller and become elliptic-lanceolate in shape.
The head-like inflorescence is terminal or axillary, arranged in a conical shape; the peduncle of the inflorescence is densely covered with long soft hairs and glandular hairs, secreting mucus; the involucre has 2 layers, with 5 linear spatulate outer involucral bracts and 10-12 inverted ovate hood-like inner involucral bracts, both layers of involucral bracts are glandular hairy.
The flowers are bisexual, yellow, with ligulate flowers on the edge, female flowers, with 3 shallow lobes at the apex; the stigma is 2-lobed; the center is tubular flowers, hermaphrodite, with 5 lobes at the apex; there are 5 stamens, the ovary is inferior, and the stigma is 2-lobed. The fruit is inverted-ovate, slightly curved, 4-angled, black, and without pappus. The flowering period is from August to October, and the fruiting period is from September to December.
[Usage and taboos of Xiqiancao]
Suitable for consumption: Xiqiancao is suitable for people with rheumatism, weakness of tendons and bones, weak waist and knees, stroke, facial paralysis, hemiplegia, wind rash and damp sores, insect and animal bites, malaria, jaundice, etc., especially for those with damp-heat type arthralgia.
Not suitable for consumption: It should be used with caution for those without rheumatism.
Expert tips: Xiqiancao is suitable for raw use to clear heat and detoxify, and it is suitable for processed use to dispel wind and dampness and promote blood circulation in the meridians. When storing, it is best to keep it in a well-ventilated and dry place to avoid mold affecting its efficacy.
