Introduction to Adenostemma Grass
Adenostemma grass, also known as Han Suma and Renzao Ci, is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows to a height of 30-100cm. The stem is erect, solitary, usually with branching in the upper part, and covered with short white hairs. The lower or middle part of the stem is smooth and hairless. The leaves are opposite; the petioles are 1-6cm long and have narrow wings. The basal leaves are small and fall off during the flowering period. The middle leaves are ovate or elliptic-ovate, measuring 4-20cm long and 3-12cm wide. The tips of the leaves are pointed or blunt, and the bases are rounded or wedge-shaped. The margins have rounded or large serrations, and both sides are sparsely covered with short hairs. [1]
Also known as Han Suma, Renzao Ci
Source: The whole plant of Adenostemma
Scientific name: Herba Adenostemmatis
Family: Asteraceae
Common name: Common Adenostema Herb
Chinese name: Adenostemma grass
Other names: Han Suma (Guizhou Folk Medicine), Renzao Ci, Ruyong Medicine (Guangxi Medicinal Plant Catalog)
Source: The whole plant of the Asteraceae plant Adenostemma
Plant morphology: Adenostemma
Perennial herbaceous plant, 30-100cm tall. The stem is erect, slightly curved at the base, and rooted at the nodes that touch the ground. The upper branches are purplish-red and covered with fine hairs, while the lower part is smooth. The leaves are opposite; the basal leaves are smaller and fall off during flowering; the middle leaves are ovate or elliptic-ovate, measuring 4-20cm long and 3-12cm wide. The tips are sharp or blunt, the bases are rounded or wedge-shaped, and the margins have rounded or large serrations. Both sides of the leaves are sparsely covered with short hairs; the petioles are 1-6cm long. The head-shaped inflorescence has a stalk that is 1-3cm long and a diameter of 7-10mm. The involucre is semi-circular, with two layers of bracts that are narrowly elliptic, about 5mm long, rounded and blunt at the tips, and slightly fused at the base. The florets are tubular, 2.5mm long, bell-shaped in the upper part, and 5-lobed. The style branches extend outward. The achene is inverted-ovate, about 4mm long, rounded at the upper end, narrow and narrow at the lower end, and has glandular dots or small tubercles all over; the corolla hairs form a ring when the four hairs are joined at the base, about 1mm long. Flowering period is from September to October.
Grows near water and in low wetlands. It is distributed in most parts of China.
Harvest in autumn.
Properties and flavors according to Guizhou Folk Medicine: "Slightly cold in nature, pungent and sweet in taste."
Effects and Uses of Adenostemma Grass
Effects of Adenostemma Grass:
According to Guizhou Folk Medicine: "Dispels wind and dampness, releases the surface. Used to treat rheumatic bone and joint pain and external pathogens."
According to Guangxi Medicinal Plant Catalog: "Used to treat toothache and breast abscess."
Dosage and administration: Internally: Soak in alcohol or decoct. Externally: Apply as a poultice or use for washing with decoction.
Functions of Adenostemma Grass:
According to Guizhou Folk Medicine: "Use a combination of Adenostemma grass, Yimeng cai, and ginger, each weighing three qian, decocted and taken orally to treat external pathogenic factors."
Images of Adenostemma Grass
【Clinical Application】
Treatment of Acute Infectious Hepatitis
Take 3-4 liang of fresh Adenostemma (or 1-2 liang of dried Adenostemma), decoct in water and take one dose per day. If jaundice has subsided and urination is clear and smooth, add 1 liang of lean pork. Avoid alcohol. In the treatment of 180 cases, it has shown certain effectiveness.
