The cow's tongue is the whole herb of the Chrysanthemum bitter vegetable, which is often mistaken for the tongue of a cow because of its name. In fact, cow's tongue is a traditional Chinese medicine, namely Lactuca indica, which is commonly used as a medicinal herb in Guangxi, Hunan, Sichuan and other places, with the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying.
【Ingredients and Effects】
The whole herb contains mannitol, L-inositol, etc. The seeds contain about 31.5% of fat oil.
It can clear heat and detoxify, treat appendicitis, dysentery, hemorrhoids, nocturnal emission, leukorrhea, mastitis, abscesses, burns, etc.
Clinically, it has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. It is reliable in treating early redness, swelling, and pain of suppurative inflammation. If it has already suppurated, it should be used in compound prescription.
【Ecological Characteristics】
Perennial herb with milky latex. The aerial stem is erect, 30-80 cm tall. Leaves are alternate, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 10-20 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, with blunt rounded apex, sparse sinuate or triangular shallow lobes, small dentate margins, and gradually narrowed into a petiole at the base; Stem leaves sessile, clasping stem at the base. Capitulum inflorescence terminal, umbel-like or conical arrangement, 2-4 cm in diameter, both peduncle and involucre with glandular hairs; Involucre campanulate, with multiple layers of bracts, the innermost bracts are long and thin, membranous on the margin, lanceolate, blunt at the apex, and the outermost bracts are short; Flowers are yellow, all ligulate; Stamens 5, anthers connate at the base, gradually pointed at the tip; Pistil composed of 2 carpels, ovary inferior, style slender, stigma 2-cleft. Achene is oblong, with narrow margin and several longitudinal ribs, slightly rough; Pappus is white and soft. Flowering period is from late autumn to early summer of the following year.
【Usage and Dosage】
Oral administration: decoction, 15-30 grams. External use: pounded for application or pounded for juice for topical use.
【Historical Use】
1. "Sichuan Materia Medica": "Cold nature, bitter and astringent taste, non-toxic."
2. "Guangxi Medicinal Herbs": "Bitter, cold, non-toxic."
3. "Compilation of Folk Commonly Used Medicinal Herbs": "Used to treat leukorrhea, nocturnal emission, and hemorrhoids."
4. "Sichuan Materia Medica": "Detoxification and heat clearing. Used to treat burns and unknown poisonous diseases."
5. "Commonly Used Medicinal Herb Manual of Guangzhou Air Force": "Used to treat appendicitis, dysentery, mastitis, and abscesses."
【Formula Applications】
1. For intestinal abscess: 4 taels of Lactuca indica, 1 tael of Gynura bicolor, 1 tael of licorice, 2 taels of Hedyotis diffusa. Decoction and consumption.
2. For dysentery: 2 taels of Lactuca indica, 2 taels of Polygonum aviculare, 1 tael of Acer negundo leaves, 1 tael of Gynura bicolor. Decoction with white sugar.
3. For mastitis: 5 qian of Lactuca indica. Decoction and consumption, or mashed and applied to the affected area;
2 appropriate amounts of Lactuca indica and Rehmannia glutinosa, a little rice wine, mashed together and applied to the affected area.
4. For boils: juice of Lactuca indica stems and leaves applied to the affected area.
Cow's tongue has a wide range of medicinal value, the most important of which is clearing heat and detoxifying. It is also commonly known as "tu dahuang", "yangti", and "Lactuca indica", and can be used alone or in combination with compound prescriptions.
