Wild sorghum refers to the rhizome or whole plant of the herb Xipanluoxinfu, which belongs to the family Gramineae. It often grows by the roadside and is often overlooked by people, but its vitality is extremely tenacious. Because wild sorghum and red asarum both belong to the genus Xipanluoxinfu and have similar effects, they are often compared by people.
Image of wild sorghum
【The efficacy and functions of wild sorghum】
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that wild sorghum has the effects of promoting blood circulation, dispersing blood stasis, dispelling wind and dampness, and relieving pain. It is commonly used to treat rheumatism, injuries from falls, stomach pain, and yellow sores.
1. "Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine": "Promotes Qi circulation, relieves pain, promotes blood circulation, and dispels blood stasis. Used to treat chronic gastritis and injuries from falls."
2. "Selected Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine": "The whole plant can dispel wind and dampness. Used to treat rheumatic pain."
3. "Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine": "Used to treat yellow sores: grind the roots of wild sorghum into powder, mix with sesame oil, and apply to the affected area."
4. "List of Yunnan Medicinal Plants": "Used to treat chronic nephritis, injuries from falls, and yellow sores: take an appropriate amount of wild sorghum roots, decoct with water for oral administration or external use."
5. "National Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicine": "Used to treat injuries from falls, rheumatic pain, and chronic nephritis. Take 6-12g of the roots, decoct and drink. For yellow sores with pus, take 9-15g of the roots, crush and mix with sesame oil, and apply to the affected area."
Wild sorghum is also used in modern clinical practice to treat measles, indigestion, gastrointestinal bleeding, anal prolapse after defecation, and irregular menstruation.
Image of red asarum
【How to distinguish between genuine and fake wild sorghum】
Because wild sorghum and red asarum both belong to the genus Xipanluoxinfu and have the effects of promoting Qi circulation, relieving pain, promoting blood circulation, and dispersing blood stasis, they are often compared by people.
1. Wild sorghum
The rhizome of wild sorghum is cylindrical, slightly curved, about 11cm long, and about 2cm in diameter. The surface is dark brown, with many wart-like protrusions at the base, and many root scars and residual fine roots can be seen;
The upper part of the stem base is densely covered with brown scales and long hairs. It is hard and not easy to break, with a powdery texture and reddish-brown color. It has a slight odor and a spicy, astringent taste.
The whole plant of wild sorghum is wrinkled. The stem is thicker and flattened, brown to dark brown in color, with brown glandular hairs, and no petals. It has a slight odor and a spicy, astringent taste.
2. Red asarum
The rhizome of red asarum is irregularly shaped, about 7cm long and 0.5-1cm in diameter. The surface is brownish, uneven, with many root scars, and sometimes scales-like bracts can be seen.
The residual stem base has brown-yellow long hairs. It is hard and not easy to break, with a powdery texture, yellowish-white color, and a slight red or reddish-brown tint.
It has a slight odor and a bitter, spicy taste. The larger the size, the harder the texture, and the whiter or slightly reddish color of the cross-section, the better the quality.
【Comparison of images of wild sorghum and red asarum】
Image of wild sorghum
Image of red asarum
