Chinese medicinal herb Didingcao is mainly found in Henan, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Shandong, and other provinces in China. It is a poppy family plant that is resistant to cold but afraid of drought. What are the taboos of using Didingcao as medicine?
Image of Didingcao
【Five Flavor Disinfectant Drink for Treating Sores】
Didingcao is commonly used to treat sores, especially those on the head, face, and back. It is often combined with dandelion, chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, etc., to make a formula called Five Flavor Disinfectant Drink.
Dosage: 9-15g in a compound formula, 30-60g as a single herb.
Prescription example: Five Flavor Disinfectant Drink from "Yi Zong Jin Jian": 15g of Didingcao, 15g of dandelion, 15g of honeysuckle, 9g of wild chrysanthemum, 9g of purple back sunflower. Boil with water and take orally. It is better to add a spoonful of ginger white wine before drinking.
【Taboos of Using Didingcao】
It is advised to be cautious when using Didingcao for those with festering swelling without a head and those with spleen and stomach deficiency and cold. People with a cold constitution should avoid using Didingcao.
【Applications of Didingcao in Prescription】
1. Treatment of carbuncle and swelling: Take the juice of Didingcao. (from "Qian Jin Fang")
2. Treatment of furuncle on the back and various unidentified swellings: Harvest Didingcao during the three hottest days of the year, mix it with flour, and soak it in salt and vinegar overnight, then apply it. (from "Sun Tianren's Collection of Effective Formulas")
3. Treatment of all kinds of malignant sores: Dry the roots of Didingcao in the sun, put them in a jar, burn them to smoke, fumigate the sores, and extract yellow water until they are completely cured. (from "Wei Sheng Yi Jian Fang")
4. Treatment of breast abscess and all kinds of toxins: Eight liang of yellow Didingcao (also known as dandelion) and eight liang of purple Didingcao. Wash them with running water, cook them with water to remove impurities, and cook them into a paste for application. (from "Hui Zhi Tang's Experience Formula: Diding Gao")
5. Treatment of all purulent infections and lymph node tuberculosis:
Five qian each of purple Didingcao, dandelion, and half lotus. Decoct and take orally, and apply the residue externally.
Two taels each of fresh purple Didingcao and wild chrysanthemum. Pound them together and take them in two doses. Apply the residue externally.
Equal amounts of fresh purple Didingcao and hibiscus flower. Add a little salt and pound them into a paste for application. At the same time, take two to three taels of purple Didingcao and decoct them. (from Su Yi's "Chinese Herbal Medicine Handbook")
