Traditional Chinese medicine is currently popular for treating cancer. Da Wei Yao is the whole herb or root of the plant Da Wei Yao in the Asteraceae family. It is harvested in autumn and can be used fresh or dried. It has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. Da Wei Yao also has anti-cancer properties!
【Plant Morphology of Da Wei Yao】
Da Wei Yao, also known as Gou Wei Cao or Quan Chong Cao, is an annual herbaceous plant that grows to a height of 15-60cm. The root is cylindrical and becomes yellow-brown when dry. The stem is upright, stout, and branches out, covered with rough hairs.
Leaves: The leaves are alternate or nearly opposite, with wrinkled and elongated leaflets measuring about 5-10cm in length, ovate or triangular-ovate in shape.
Flowers: Green sepals, pale blue-purple or white corolla, 5 stamens, terminal inflorescence in the form of a unidirectional spike, with small flowers densely growing on the upper side of the flower axis. The tip bends outward and gradually opens from bottom to top. The flowering period is from May to September.
The inflorescence is arranged in a forked scorpion tail shape, with the entire inflorescence reaching a length of 15cm. The tip curls up like a caterpillar, which is why it is also called "Ear Hook Grass".
Fruit: The fruit is a capsule formed by the fusion of two small achene fruits.
Uses: Edible, medicinal, and a source of honey.
The main effects and functions of Da Wei Yao are dispelling wind and heat, treating pneumonia, pulmonary edema, liver disease, sore throat, oral ulcers, boils, tumors, etc. Crushing Da Wei Yao and applying it externally can reduce swelling.
【Effects and Functions of Da Wei Yao】
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Da Wei Yao has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and diuresis. It is commonly used for pneumonia, empyema, sore throat, oral ulcers, bladder stones, abscesses, and swelling.
1. "Fujian Folk Medicinal Herbs": "Diuretic, heat-clearing, abscess-resolving, detoxifying. Used to treat fever with rash, pneumonia, empyema."
2. "Nanning Pharmaceutical Chronicle": "Reduces swelling, resolves toxins, disperses accumulation. Internally used to treat bladder stones; branches and leaves are boiled with lime water for fumigation to treat snakehead sores."
3. "Fujian Folk Medicinal Herbs": "Treats sore throat, cough, early-stage ulcers, oral ulcers."
4. "Fujian Folk Medicinal Herbs": "Treats dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, and whole-body pain during menstruation."
5. "National Compilation of Chinese Medicinal Herbs": "Clears heat, detoxifies. Mainly used for pneumonia, lung abscess, empyema, diarrhea, dysentery, orchitis, diphtheria, oral ulcers, boils."
