Pulmonary Grass, also known as Mei Hua Cao or Bai Ce Er, is the whole herb of the plant Impatiens balsamina, which belongs to the Balsaminaceae family. Pulmonary Grass is distributed in Yunnan, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Henan, and other provinces in China. How can we eat Pulmonary Grass for the best efficacy?
【Morphology of Pulmonary Grass】
Pulmonary Grass is a perennial herb, 10-45 cm tall. The basal leaves are thick and papery, kidney-shaped or heart-shaped, 2.5-6 cm long. The leaf stalk can reach up to 16 cm long. Stem leaves are one per stem, round, heart-shaped at the base, clasping the stem, with entire margins. The flowers are white, solitary at the apex of the stem. The calyx has 5 ovate or wide-ovate sepals with blunt tips.
There are 5 petals, spoon-shaped, inverted-ovate, or inverted-lanceolate, up to 2.5 cm long, with entire margins. Sometimes the lower or basal parts have sparse ciliate-like lobes. There are 5 stamens, alternating with the petals. The connective is brown and diamond-shaped, elongated above the anther, and the stamens degenerate above the middle of the connective, with 3 deep lobes. The ovary is superior, with 3 fused carpels, and the style is slightly longer than the ovary, with a 3-lobed stigma. The fruit is ellipsoid. The flowering and fruiting period is from June to September.
【Methods of Eating Pulmonary Grass】
1. Pulmonary Grass can be stewed with meat to clear lung heat. It can be combined with ingredients such as pears, black fungus, soy milk, honey, and carrots. Clearing lung heat pear: it can moisten the throat, relieve thirst, clear heat, and stop coughing.
One method is to hollow out the inside of the pear and fill it with ingredients such as Fritillaria cirrhosa, rock sugar, and honey for cooking. Another method is to cut the pear with the skin into pieces, put it in a bowl and steam it. It is best to add rock sugar to the bowl, and after cooking, mix it with honey. It is most effective to eat it while it's still hot.
2. Pulmonary Grass can be taken together with Chinese jujube to stop coughing. Remember to drink plenty of water. You can also take it with Fritillaria cirrhosa for cough relief.
Chicken stewed with Pulmonary Grass is rich in nutrients during pregnancy. You can consume more vegetables and fruits. Moneywort can be used together with Pulmonary Grass to clear heat and detoxify, but avoid eating spicy foods and do not use them together with Pulmonary Grass.
【Dosage and Usage of Pulmonary Grass】
Pulmonary Grass can be collected throughout the year, washed, dried, and used fresh or dried. For internal use: decoct 6-9g or 1-3 qian (a traditional Chinese unit of weight). For external use: use an appropriate amount to decoct in water for washing.
Selected formulas:
To treat heart disease: 1. Pulmonary Grass 1 qian, Chinese jujube 1 liang, rock sugar as needed, decoct and take. (From "Selected Yunnan Chinese Herbs") 2. Pulmonary Grass 2 qian, a few grains of pepper, mash and stuff into a pig heart, boil together with the dregs and soup, then take. (From "Selected Simao Chinese Herbs")
To treat mental illness and neurasthenia: Pulmonary Grass 2-3 qian, Arisaema tortuosum 1 qian, a little wine, decoct and take.
