Dijincao, also known as Herba Lysimachiae, is a traditional Chinese medicine. It is the dried whole plant of the Euphorbiaceae family plant Lysimachia christinae or Lysimachia clethroides. It is harvested in summer and autumn, cleaned and dried. It has a spicy and mild taste and has the effects of clearing heat and dampness, cooling blood and stopping bleeding, and detoxification and reducing swelling.
Clearing Heat and Dampness
Dijincao has the ability to disperse and relieve heat and dampness. Therefore, it is often used to treat damp-heat jaundice and diarrhea. For patients with damp-heat jaundice and difficult urination, it can be used alone or in combination with Yinchai and Zhizi to clear heat, dampness, and reduce jaundice. For patients with heat-toxin diarrhea and pus and blood in the stool, it can be used in combination with Machixian and Huanglian to clear heat, detoxify, and stop diarrhea. For patients with damp-heat pouring downwards, urinary dribbling and painful urination, it can be used in combination with Haijinsha and Cheqiancao to clear heat, promote diuresis, and relieve urinary tract irritation.
Cooling Blood and Stopping Bleeding
Dijincao not only promotes blood circulation and disperses blood stasis but also cools blood and stops bleeding. Therefore, it is often used to treat various internal and external bleeding disorders, and it has the advantage of stopping bleeding without causing blood stasis. For patients with blood-heat vomiting or nosebleeds, it can be used in combination with Shengdihuang and Mudanpi to enhance the cooling and bleeding-stopping effects. For patients with hematuria or blood stranguria, it can be used in combination with Baimaogen and Xiaojie to cool blood, stop bleeding, and promote urination. For patients with bleeding in the stool, blood dysentery, or hemorrhoids, it can be used in combination with Diyu and Huaihua to cool blood, stop diarrhea, and detoxify. For patients with excessive uterine bleeding, it can be used in combination with Puhuang and Qiancao to strengthen the cooling and bleeding-stopping effects. For patients with external bleeding from injuries, it can be used externally by grinding the herb.
Detoxification and Reducing Swelling
Dijincao has a bitter and dispersing nature and has the ability to clear heat, detoxify, disperse blood stasis, and reduce swelling. Therefore, it can be used to treat abscesses, ulcers, bruises, eczema, burns, scalds, and snake bites. It is commonly used as a fresh herb that is mashed and applied externally.
Antibacterial
The ethanol extract of Dijincao contains flavonoids (lysimachin) that have varying degrees of antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, various dysentery bacilli, Escherichia coli, Proteus, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and Treponema pallidum. The ethyl acetate extract of Dijincao also has antiparasitic effects.
