Shixi grass, a traditional Chinese medicine, is the dried above-ground part of the plants Xixi, Xiangeng Xixi, or Maogeng Xixi in the Asteraceae family. It has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting joint health, and detoxification. It is used for rheumatism, weakness of tendons and bones, lumbar and knee soreness and weakness, limb paralysis, hemiplegia, and wind rash and damp sores.
[Properties and Channels Entered]
Properties: bitter, cold.
① "Tang Bencao": "It tastes bitter, cold, and slightly toxic."
② "Benjing Fengyuan": "Slightly bitter, slightly pungent, cold, and slightly toxic."
Channels entered: Liver, Spleen, Kidney.
① "Leigong Paozhi Yaowu Jie": "Enters the Liver and Kidney channels."
② "Bencao Huiyan": "Enters the Hand and Foot Shaoyang channels."
③ "Bencao Zai Xin": "Enters the Heart and Spleen channels."
[Functions and Indications]
Shixi grass has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting tendon and bone health, and reducing blood pressure. It is used for limb numbness, tendon and bone pain, lumbar and knee weakness, malaria, acute hepatitis, hypertension, carbuncles, and swelling and toxicity from external injuries.
Shixi grass is good at resolving damp heat and relieving itching, making it an important herb for treating damp heat sores, skin rashes, and dampness-related itching. After being processed with wine, its properties change from bitter to sweet and warm. In its ability to dispel wind and eliminate dampness, it also has the function of nourishing the liver and kidneys. Therefore, it can be used for limb numbness, tendon and bone pain, and lumbar and knee soreness.
"Tang Bencao": "Used for hidden heat, restlessness, fullness, and inability to eat. Crush and squeeze the juice, take three to four servings."
"Bencao Shi Yi": "Used for chronic malaria, phlegm and retention, crush and squeeze the juice to induce vomiting; also used for crushed spider bites, insect bites, and bedsores."
"Kaibao Bencao": "Treats wounds from tiger and dog bites."
"Bencao Tu Jing": "Treats wind-dampness in the liver and kidneys, limb paralysis, bone pain in the joints, and weakness in the limbs. Also relieves colon gas. It can tonify deficiencies, stabilize the five organs, promote hair growth. It is also effective for wind-dampness sores, stubborn muscle paralysis, and women with chronic coldness."
"Lvchanyan Bencao": "Treats soft paralysis and weak tendons and vessels caused by wind disorders. Take as a powder, mixed with wine."
"Dian Nan Bencao": "Treats various wind and wind-dampness symptoms, without specific patterns in the six channels. Symptoms include hemiplegia, facial asymmetry, phlegm and Qi stagnation, limb numbness, paralysis and lack of sensitivity, tendon and bone pain, phlegm and dampness, paralysis and weakness, wind-dampness and phlegm-fire, vitiligo, and loss of eyebrows and eyelashes."
"Bencao Jing Shu": "Dispels wind and dampness, and activates blood circulation."
"Fenlei Caoyao Xing": "Improves eyesight, darkens hair, nourishes Yin and nourishes blood."
"Guizhou Folk Medicinal Collection": "Moistens the lungs and stops coughing."
"Guangxi Chinese Materia Medica": "The leaves can be applied externally for shrimp pincers ulcers (between the two fingers)."
"Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicine Handbook": "Calms the mind, lowers blood pressure, dispels wind, and relieves pain. It is used for neurasthenia, insomnia, hypertension, rheumatism, and snake and insect bites."
"Bencao Shi Yi": "Used for chronic malaria, phlegm and retention." This syndrome is mostly caused by long-term malaria, depletion of Qi and blood, combined with weak spleen and stomach, insufficient source of Qi and blood production, resulting in fatigue, shortness of breath, lethargy, poor appetite, pale complexion, and emaciation. It tends to relapse with exertion and occurs with cold and heat. The tongue is pale and the pulse is weak. When malaria attacks, Shixi grass can be used to dispel pathogenic factors and treat malaria.
"Xinxiu Bencao": "Treats wounds, relieves pain, promotes granulation, treats various malignant sores, dissipates swelling, and is good for soaking, dispersing, and applying."
[Prescriptions and Applications]
1. Dispels wind and dampness, promotes blood circulation and dredges channels
① Used for rheumatism, which is rheumatoid arthritis. Shixi grass has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation, and dredging channels. It is often used in combination with Danggui, Wujiapi, Haifengteng, etc. It can also be used alone, ground into powder, steamed with wine, and made into honey pills for consumption.
② Used for sequelae of stroke, hemiplegia, and limb numbness. Shixi grass is used to dredge channels and regulate Qi and blood, often used in combination with Huangqi, Danggui, Dilong, etc.
2. Resolves damp heat, relieves itching: Used for skin rashes and damp sores, can be used in combination with Baixianpi, Cangerzi, etc.
3. Treats malaria: Used for malaria, take 30 grams of Shixi grass, decoct in water and take in two doses.
4. Combined with Haitongpi: Haitongpi is bitter and pungent, enters the blood division, dispels wind and dampness, promotes blood circulation and relieves pain, and is more suitable for ascending; Shixi grass dispels wind and dampness, promotes blood circulation, detoxifies and lowers blood pressure. When used together, they have the functions of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation, and reducing blood pressure. They are used for rheumatism, tendon and bone obstruction, joint pain, limb numbness, hemiplegia, or sequelae of infantile paralysis.
5. Combined with Weilingxian: Both herbs can dispel wind and dampness and relieve pain. Shixi grass is good at promoting tendon and bone health, while Weilingxian is good at dredging channels. The two herbs complement each other and have more significant effects. They are used for rheumatism, tendon and bone pain, and limb numbness.
[Dosage and Administration]
Oral: 9-12 grams, decocted, crushed and squeezed for juice, or made into pills or powder. External use: Crush Shixi grass and apply, or decoct and steam for washing; grind dried product into powder and sprinkle.
[Precautions]
Patients with limb numbness and lumbar and knee weakness caused by deficiency of the spleen and kidneys and insufficient yin and blood should not take it.
