Sea green, also known as "Si Nian Huang", is a flowering plant in the Saxifragaceae family. It is mainly found in Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and other areas. It has the effects of dispelling wind and cold, promoting blood circulation, and detoxifying. It is commonly used for rheumatoid arthritis, yin-type ulcers, and snake or rabies bites.
【Morphological Characteristics of Sea Green】
Sea green is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant, hairless. It grows in clusters, with branched stems that have four edges and are 10-30cm tall, slightly pale green or white. The leaves are opposite, sessile, and sheathed; the leaf blades are ovate to narrow-ovate, 1-2.5cm long and 5-15mm wide, with a pointed or slightly blunt apex, a rounded base, and entire margins, and they are papery in texture.
The flowers are solitary in leaf axils; the pedicels are 2-3cm long, without bracts; the calyx is divided into 5 linear-lanceolate lobes, 4-6mm long, and sharp-pointed; the corolla is radially shaped, 4-6mm long, pale red, and the lobes are inverted ovate. The corolla is entire or has eroded-like small teeth at the apex, with glandular marginal hairs; there are 5 stamens with hairy filaments; the ovary is superior, hairless, and the style is thread-like. The capsule is spherical, about 4mm in diameter. The seeds are dark brown with densely covered tubercular protuberances. The flowering period is from March to May.
【Medicinal Uses of Sea Green】
Taste and nature: Sour and astringent, non-toxic.
Main uses: It is used to treat snake or rabies bites by orally taking the juice and applying the residue to the affected area. It is also used for yin-type ulcers and rheumatoid arthritis.
Dosage: Orally, decoct 3-5 qian (fresh herb 0.5-1 liang); or pound into juice. Externally, apply the pounded herb.
The method of consuming sea green is to decoct it and drink the juice after removing the residue. The daily dosage is 3-5 qian (fresh herb 0.5-1 liang). For external use, pound the herb and apply it to the affected area.
