Pucao Root is the root of the plant Scirpus juncoides, which belongs to the family Cyperaceae. It is mostly found in the wild and rarely cultivated. Due to its ability to clear heat and detoxify, Pucao Root is commonly used to treat toothache and expel parasites. So, can Pucao Root be consumed directly? Let's find out more about the benefits and uses of Pucao Root.
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【Can Pucao Root be consumed directly?】
Wild Pucao Root cannot be consumed directly. It needs to be processed before use. It is particularly important to note that Pucao Root has a cooling nature and should not be consumed during menstruation.
Usage of Pucao Root: Internally, it can be boiled into a decoction. Fresh Pucao Root should be used in a quantity of 1-2 liang.
On the Dragon Boat Festival, it is customary for everyone to drink a cup of wine early in the morning, as it is believed to ward off evil spirits. Drinking and spraying realgar wine is a traditional folk custom of the Dragon Boat Festival. There is a saying: "On the fifth day of May, drink realgar wine to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival."
This is because people in ancient times believed that the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, is an "evil month and evil day", and the day with the most poisonous gas.
Therefore, on this day, people would cut the harvested Pucao Root into small pieces, dry them in the sun, mix them with a little realgar, and soak them in white wine, believing that this would have the effect of expelling snakes and warding off evil spirits.
Pucao Root grows in ditches, ponds, lakesides, and grasslands along rivers. Except for Xinjiang and Tibet, it is widely distributed throughout the country.
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【The original plant morphology of Pucao Root】
Pucao Root is the root of the plant Scirpus juncoides. It is harvested in autumn, washed, and used fresh or dried.
Scirpus juncoides is also known as three-cornered grass, water three-ridge grass, silky grass, and triangular observation. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 60-100cm. The root of Pucao Root is short and thick, with fine long adventitious roots. The stems are clumped, relatively stout, sharply three-ridged, with 2 leaf sheaths at the base and no leaf blades.
There is 1 bract, which is an extension of the stem, upright, and 3-14cm long. There are 2-9 spikelets, clustered into a head-like shape, pseudo-lateral, ovate or long ovate, 8-16mm long, 4-6mm wide, with numerous flowers;
The glume is ovate or oblong-ovate, 4-5mm long, pale brown, with a short tip at the apex and red-brown short stripes on both sides of the midrib; there are 6 downward-pointing bristles, nearly equal in length to the nutlet, with barbs;
There are 3 stamens, with linear anthers; and 3 stigmas. The nutlet of Scirpus juncoides is broadly ovate, flattened triangular, 2-2.5mm long, brownish-black and glossy when mature, with indistinct wrinkles. The flowering and fruiting period of Pucao Root is from May to September.
Pucao Root image
【The benefits and uses of Pucao Root】
Pucao Root, also known as Xicao Root and Mangcao, is the root of the sedge plant Scirpus juncoides. It has a mild and slightly bitter taste and a cooling nature. It enters the stomach, bladder, and kidney meridians.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, Pucao Root has the effects of clearing heat, promoting diuresis, and detoxifying. It is mainly used for hot dysuria, urinary retention, excessive vaginal discharge, and swollen gums.
1. For hot dysuria and urinary retention: 30g of Pucao Root, 30g of Shiwei, and 30g of Haijinsha. Boil in water and take orally.
2. For damp-heat vaginal discharge: 30g of Pucao Root and 30g of Sanbaicao. Boil in water and take orally.
3. For toothache caused by stomach fire: 15g of Pucao Root, 15g of bitter buckwheat, 15g of Digu Pi, and 15g of Artemisia argyi. Boil in water and take orally.
