Chinese herbal medicine Chishen San is a heat-clearing and blood-activating medicine commonly used to treat acute gastroenteritis, hemoptysis, and irregular menstruation. Now let's learn about the medicinal usage of Chishen San!
Chishen San belongs to the Polygonaceae family, a perennial herbaceous plant. It grows in clusters and has a head-like inflorescence. Chishen San prefers sunlight but can tolerate shade. It is also resistant to cold and barren soil.
Chishen San is not only used as ground cover but also creatively incorporated into many modern Chinese-style gardens to enhance the charm of Chinese culture.
The flowers and leaves of Chishen San have some unique markings. In spring, the young branches, leaf stalks, and leaf veins are purplish-red. In summer, the mature leaves are green with rusty-red spots in the center and pale purplish-red edges.
In addition to its color, Chishen San has a distinctive feature: it has a pair of rounded ears at the base of the leaves, with purple-black markings on top.
In terms of medicinal usage, traditional Chinese medicine believes that Chishen San has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting blood circulation, and reducing swelling. It is mainly used to treat dysentery, leukorrhea, heat-induced headaches, irregular menstruation, breast abscesses, and bruises.
Chishen San has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and blood-activating effects. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the aqueous extract of Chishen San has a significant effect on a certain type of dysentery bacteria and also exhibits strong antioxidant activity.
Treatment for mastitis: Mash the whole plant or the tubers and wild buckwheat, and apply them externally with wine residue.
Precautions: It is not suitable for those with weak qi and deficiency of the superficial energy. It is advisable to consume less if one has stagnant qi. Excessive consumption may cause menstrual irregularities in women. Pregnant women should use with caution as it may lead to fetal malformation.
