Effects of Elsholtzia

Elsholtzia paltrini is the dried above-ground part of Elsholtzia paltrini and Elsholtzia japonica, family Labiatae, with a pungent, slightly warm taste. It belongs to the lung, spleen and stomach meridians. The dried above-ground part of Elsholtzia paltrini is used as a medicine for relieving symptoms by sweating, relieving summer heat by resolving dampness, and relieving swelling by promoting lung energy. Here is a look at the efficacy and effects of Elsholtzia splendens.

Relieving symptoms by sweating

Elsholtzria paltrini is pungent, warm and dispersing, and can enter the lung meridian to dispel cold by sweating and relieving the surface of the body; its aromatic smell can also enter the spleen and stomach to dispel heat by resolving dampness and neutralizing heat. It is known as summer ephedra because of its effectiveness in treating summer colds with fever, head and body pain, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Relieving water and swelling

Elsholtzini is pungent and warm, and can disperse water and dampness on the surface of the body through sweating, and also has the effect of promoting the lung, which is the source of water. It is often used in treating edema, inconvenient urination and swollen feet.

Antibacterial, antiviral

The volatile oil has a strong inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, S. typhi, and diplococcus meningitidis. The aqueous decoction of HAIZHOU Elsholtzia has antiviral effects.

Harmonizing and dispelling summer heat

Elsholtzria is an aromatic herb that enters the spleen and stomach, and is used to dispel summer heat by harmonizing dampness.

Expelling dampness and reducing swelling

Elshotria paltrini is pungent and warming, and can disperse water dampness on the surface of the body through sweating.

Sedative

The volatile oil contained in Elshotria is also known for its sedative, analgesic and antispasmodic effects.

Suitable for people

People who suffer from summer dampness and cold

Elsholtzria is effective for people who suffer from external wind chills, internal summer dampness, fever, headache and sweating, and painful diarrhea.

For people with abdominal pain and diarrhea

This herb is recommended for people with wind-cold and dampness in the spleen and stomach, who suffer from cold, fever, headache and heaviness, no sweating, fullness and poor appetite, greasy coating, nausea and vomiting, or diarrhea.

People with oedema, unfavorable urination and swollen feet

Elsholtzria is useful for dispersing water-dampness on the surface of the muscles by sweating, and for promoting the flow of lung qi to open up the upper sources and unblock the water channels, so as to promote urination and reduce swelling. It can be used alone or in combination with Atractylodes macrocephala, which strengthens the spleen and promotes water retention, for the treatment of edema, inconvenient urination and swollen feet.

People for whom Elsholtzria is not suitable

Summer heat

The symptoms of summer fever include heat, sweating, thirst, dizziness, short yellow urine, red tongue, dry yellow fur, and large pulse. As summer heat tends to injure the fluids and deplete the Qi, Elsholtzria is not suitable for use in this case, as it may cause excessive sweating and damage the fluids.

Superficial deficiency sweating

The main clinical symptoms are sweating and vicious wind, and Elsholtzia is not suitable for use because of its sweating function.