The Healing Power of Xianhecao: Benefits and Usage

Xianhecao is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that can stop bleeding and reduce swelling. It can be used both externally and internally. Whether it is consumed by steeping in water or by decoction, the effects are the same. Let's learn about the benefits and usage of Xianhecao!

Can Xianhecao be steeped in water and consumed?

Xianhecao has the effects of stopping bleeding, improving digestion, lubricating the intestines, treating diarrhea, and killing parasites.

Steeping 3 teaspoons of dried Xianhecao in hot water for 10-15 minutes can improve diarrhea.

Using the cooled infusion to wipe the skin can reduce skin irritation, and rinsing the mouth with warm infusion can relieve oral irritation and sore throat.

Xianhecao can strengthen the body and supplement deficiencies. It has a good therapeutic effect on fatigue, weakness, pale complexion, spontaneous sweating due to qi deficiency, palpitations, and other symptoms. Therefore, it is called "fatigue-relieving herb."

In the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, Xianhecao is often cooked with red dates to replenish qi and blood and treat fatigue.

Benefits and effects of Xianhecao

1. Astringent and hemostatic

Xianhecao has a bitter and astringent taste. It enters the lung and liver meridians and can astringe and stop bleeding. It is widely used for bleeding disorders throughout the body. Due to its mild nature, it can be used regardless of whether the bleeding is caused by cold or heat, deficiency or excess.

2. Tonifying and stopping diarrhea

Xianhecao has a slightly sweet taste and can tonify deficiencies. It enters the lung, liver, and spleen meridians. It can tonify qi and blood and, because of its bitter taste, it can also dry dampness. It enters the large intestine meridian and can relieve damp-heat and stop diarrhea. Therefore, it has the effect of tonifying deficiencies and stopping diarrhea and is often used for dysentery and other conditions.

3. Detoxifying and antimalarial

Xianhecao has a slightly bitter and sweet taste. Bitterness can kill parasites, and sweetness can detoxify. Therefore, it can kill parasites and detoxify. It is often used for itching, sores, and other conditions. It can also be used to treat malaria and cold and heat symptoms. It can be taken by grinding the herb into powder and swallowing it 2 hours before the onset of malaria, or by decoction.

Methods of consuming Xianhecao

1. Xianzao Chidou Porridge

Ingredients: 100g of coix seed, 50g of red adzuki beans, 60g of Xianhecao, 50g of dried jujube, 30g of white sugar

Method: Soak the coix seed and adzuki beans in warm water for half a day. Wrap the Xianhecao in gauze and remove the pits from the jujubes. Cook the Xianhecao, jujubes, adzuki beans, and coix seed in water to make a thin porridge. Add sugar to taste.

2. Xianju Tea

Ingredients: 30g of Xianhecao, 15g of chrysanthemum, 15g of honeysuckle, 6g of licorice, 24g of quartz, 30g of white sugar

Method: Wash the Xianhecao, chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, licorice, quartz, and amethyst separately and put them in an aluminum pot. Add an appropriate amount of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Then simmer for 20 minutes over low heat, filter out the residue, and mix in the sugar to make the tea.