Pucaroot is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in Sichuan, also known as Xicaogen, Mangcao, and Sanjiaocao. It is the root of the water hair flower, a sedge plant. Do you know what diseases it mainly treats? Traditional Chinese medicine can answer that based on the efficacy and functions of Pucaroot.
Image of Pucaroot
【How to Identify Pucaroot?】
Pucaroot, also known as Xicaogen, Mangcao, Sanjiaocao, Shuimao Lingcao, Simao Cao, and Sanleng Guan, is the root of the water hair flower. It has a mild and slightly bitter taste, and a cool nature. It belongs to the stomach, bladder, and kidney meridians.
It is a perennial herb, 60-100cm tall. The rhizome is short and thick, with slender roots. The stems are clustered, relatively thick and strong, sharply triangular in shape, with 2 leaf sheaths at the base, but no leaf blades.
There is 1 bract, which is an extension of the stem, upright, 3-14cm long. The spikelets are 2-9, clustered into a head-like shape, pseudo-lateral, ovoid or long ovoid, 8-16mm long, 4-6mm wide, with numerous flowers;
The scales are long ovoid, 4-5mm long, pale brown, with short tips at the apex and a red-brown short stripe on each side of the midrib; there are 6 downward curved spines, nearly equal in length to the utricles, with backward barbs;
There are 3 stamens and linear anthers; 3 stigmas. The utricles of the water hair flower are broadly ovoid, flattened triangular, 2-2.5mm long, glossy brownish-black when mature, with indistinct wrinkles. The flowering and fruiting period is from May to September.
【Efficacy and Functions of Pucaroot】
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Pucaroot has the effects of clearing heat, promoting diuresis, and detoxification. It is mainly used for hot lin syndrome, urinary difficulty, excessive vaginal discharge, and swollen and painful gums.
1. "Commonly Used Chinese Medicinal Herbs in Sichuan": "Clears heat, promotes diuresis. Used for heat syndrome toothache, lin syndrome, leukorrhea."
Image of Pucaroot
2. "Chinese Medicinal Herbs in Sichuan" 1982 edition: "Used for hot lin syndrome, urinary difficulty."
Usage and dosage of Pucaroot
Oral administration: decoction, 1-2 liang of fresh Pucaroot.
【Main Diseases Treated by Pucaroot】
1. Treatment of hot lin syndrome and urinary difficulty: 30g of Pucaroot, 30g of Shiwei, 30g of Haijinsha. Prepare a decoction and take it orally.
2. Treatment of damp-heat excessive vaginal discharge: 30g of Pucaroot, 30g of Sanbaicao. Prepare a decoction and take it orally.
3. Treatment of toothache caused by stomach fire: 15g of Pucaroot, 15g of bitter buckwheat fruit, 15g of Digupi, 15g of Artemisia argyi. Prepare a decoction and take it orally.
