Chinese herbal medicine Xue Man Cao, also known as Jie Gu Yao, Jie Gu Cao, Xue Guan Cao, etc., has the effects of dispelling wind, promoting diuresis, activating blood circulation, and dredging collaterals. Xue Man Cao is commonly used for acute and chronic nephritis, rheumatic pain, wind rash itching, sequelae of infantile paralysis, fractures, etc.
Picture of Xue Man Cao
【Identification of Xue Man Cao】
Xue Man Cao stem is cylindrical, with a diameter of 0.3-1.5cm. The surface is grayish-green to green-brown, hard and brittle in texture. The stem has multiple longitudinal ridges, and the ridges are covered with yellow-brown to rust-colored short hairs. The outer layer of the stem is relatively hard and woody. The pith is wide and white, spongy in a loose and sponge-like shape, slightly glossy, with scattered brownish-red spots, more on the outer side of the pith.
Odd-pinnate compound leaves are opposite, with small leaflets ranging from green-brown to dark green, short stalks, and covered with short hairs. The leaflets are often wrinkled, broken, and when fully opened, they are lanceolate in shape, 5-15cm long and 2-4cm wide, with serrated edges.
Occasional flowers are present, with terminal conical inflorescences and small, light yellow, or white flowers. The aroma is slightly fragrant, and the taste is mild and slightly astringent. The color of the stem surface, the longitudinal ridges and hair coverage of the stem, the wide pith, and the scattered brownish-red spots are the most characteristic identification points.
Picture of Xue Man Cao
【Medicinal Value of Xue Man Cao】
① Treatment of acute and chronic nephritis
Take 50g of Xue Man Cao, 30g of Jiu Ping Hua root, 16g of Shan Pi Tiao, and 16g of Shi Jiao Cao. Decoct and take orally. (From "Quan Zhan Xuan Bian-Internal Medicine")
② Treatment of rheumatic pain, wind rash
Take an appropriate amount of Xue Man Cao. Decoct and use the liquid to wash the affected area.
③ Treatment of infantile paralysis, bruises
First, use a plum blossom needle to puncture the affected area, then grind the fresh Xue Man Cao stem and leaves into a fine powder, stir-fry it with alcohol, and use it as an external wrap.
④ Treatment of fractures
Take an appropriate amount of fresh Xue Man Cao, mash it, and apply it with alcohol or boiled water.
⑤ Treatment of edema
Take 9-15g of Xue Man Cao tender leaves and root bark, cook them with tofu, and take orally. (The following formula is from "Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine")
⑥ Treatment of rectal bleeding, prolapse
Take Xue Man Cao, Hei Suo Mei root, and Mang Zhong Hua root, cook them with pork and eat. (From "Kunming Folk Commonly Used Herbs")
