Wolfberry Grass, also known as Douzha Vegetable, Langye Vegetable, is a medicinal herb commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases. It is a toxic plant included in the Chinese Plant Database. The entire plant is toxic. Today, I will introduce Wolfberry Grass to everyone!
Image of Wolfberry Grass
Introduction of Wolfberry Grass
Wolfberry Grass is an annual herb that grows 30-150cm tall. The leaves are opposite, hairless, with narrow wings on the leaf stalks. The middle leaves are usually pinnate with 3-5 lobes, with larger elliptical or lanceolate lobes and serrated edges. The upper leaves are deeply divided or not divided.
The inflorescence is terminal or axillary and has a diameter of 1-3cm. There are many bracts, with the outer ones lanceolate and leaf-like, 1-4cm long, and with eyelashes. The flowers are yellow, all bisexual tubular flowers. The fruit is flattened, inverted ovate-wedge-shaped, with thorny hairs on the edges and 2 spines on the top, occasionally 3-4 spines, and thorny hairs on both sides.
Geographical distribution: Wolfberry Grass is widely distributed in various provinces and regions of China. It is also found in Asia, Europe, northern Africa, and Oceania.
Benefits and Uses of Wolfberry Grass
Wolfberry Grass has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, nourishing yin, and stopping sweating. It is used for the treatment of colds, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, enteritis, hepatitis, urinary tract infections, night sweats in tuberculosis, and amenorrhea. It is also used externally to treat boils, swelling, eczema, and ringworm.
1. Treatment for bronchitis and tuberculosis: Take one or two fresh Wolfberry Grass and decoct in water for consumption. (Fujian Herbal Medicine)
2. Treatment for diphtheria, pharyngitis, tonsillitis: Take three to four fresh Wolfberry Grass, add six fresh olives or five qian of fresh Malan roots, decoct in water for consumption. (Fujian Herbal Medicine)
3. Treatment for sore throat: Take five qian to one or two fresh Wolfberry Grass, stew with rock sugar and consume. (Min Dong Materia Medica)
Image of Wolfberry Grass
4. Treatment for bloody dysentery: Take two jin of Wolfberry Grass, grind and squeeze out one small cup of juice, mix with half a chicken egg white, mix well, and consume on an empty stomach.
If fresh plants are not available, collect the dried plants and grind them into powder. Take one fen spoonful of the powder with half a cup of honey water for consumption. (Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica)
5. Treatment for eczema: Crush fresh Wolfberry Grass leaves and squeeze out the juice for application. (Fujian Herbal Medicine)
6. Treatment for ringworm: Grind Wolfberry Grass leaves into powder, mix with vinegar, and apply. (Fujian Herbal Medicine)
Related Formulas of Wolfberry Grass
① Treatment for bronchitis and tuberculosis: Take one or two fresh Wolfberry Grass, decoct in water for consumption. (Fujian Herbal Medicine)
② Treatment for diphtheria, pharyngitis, tonsillitis: Take three to four fresh Wolfberry Grass, add six fresh olives or five qian of fresh Malan roots, decoct in water for consumption. (Fujian Herbal Medicine)
③ Treatment for sore throat: Take five qian to one or two fresh Wolfberry Grass, stew with rock sugar and consume. (Min Dong Materia Medica)
④ Treatment for bloody dysentery: Take two jin of Wolfberry Grass, grind and squeeze out one small cup of juice, mix with half a chicken egg white, mix well, and consume on an empty stomach. If fresh plants are not available, collect the dried plants and grind them into powder. Take one fen spoonful of the powder with half a cup of honey water for consumption. (Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica)
⑤ Treatment for eczema: Crush fresh Wolfberry Grass leaves and squeeze out the juice for application. (Fujian Herbal Medicine)
⑥ Treatment for ringworm: Grind Wolfberry Grass leaves into powder, mix with vinegar, and apply. (Fujian Herbal Medicine)
Wolfberry Grass and its related plant, Three-leaf Ghost Needle Grass, are both called "Douzha Grass" in Sichuan, and they are used interchangeably. Three-leaf Ghost Needle Grass is the main variety of the herbal medicine "Golden Bowl and Silver Plate" in Guangdong and Guangxi, as mentioned in the "Golden Bowl and Silver Plate" entry.
