Since the broadcast of the TV series "The Legend of Mi Yue," a scene in the show has sparked discussion among netizens. There have been rumors online that the herb Cow Tongue Grass can cure snake venom. Is it true? Today, I will reveal the truth behind this.
The protagonist Mi Yue in the TV series is portrayed as a skilled traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. Does her knowledge and statements about Chinese medicine hold true?
Today, I will use the example of the Chinese herb Cow Tongue Grass to explain. Let's take a look at the plot:
The state of Chu is located in the south, where there are many venomous snakes due to the climate. It is not uncommon for people to be bitten by snakes, regardless of whether they are princesses or commoners. Unfortunately, such an incident occurs. Princess Mi Shu is walking in the garden and is accidentally bitten by a venomous snake. In this critical situation, Mi Yue quickly decides to use Cow Tongue Grass to save her.
This scene in the TV series has sparked a heated discussion. Can Cow Tongue Grass really treat snake venom? Is it as miraculous as portrayed in the show? Can it be used to treat snake bites?
Cow Tongue Grass, also known as Cow-Tongued Pondweed, Wild Bitterweed, Mountain Bitterweed, or Beef Tongue Herb, is the whole herb of the Compositae plant, Laggera pterodonta. It has a cooling and slightly bitter taste and is known for its effects of clearing heat, detoxification, killing parasites, and relieving itching. It can be taken internally as a decoction, 0.5 to 2 liang, or used externally as a poultice or applied as a crushed juice.
According to traditional Chinese medicine and related ancient books, the function of Cow Tongue Grass is to clear heat and detoxify, kill parasites, and relieve itching. It is mainly used to treat appendicitis, dysentery, hemorrhoids, nocturnal emissions, turbid discharge, mastitis, ulcers, and burns.
From this, it can be seen that Cow Tongue Grass can only clear heat and detoxify. The concept of "toxin" in Chinese medicine includes various evil toxins, both internal and external, which is not exactly the same as the chemical toxins referred to in modern science. In other words, Cow Tongue Grass cannot cure snake bites from highly venomous snakes.
Therefore, we can now answer the initial question. Cow Tongue Grass cannot be used to treat snake venom, and it does not possess the miraculous properties portrayed in "The Legend of Mi Yue." The scriptwriter of the TV series simply tried to showcase Mi Yue's strong personality and abilities through her knowledge of Chinese medicine. However, netizens should be cautious and not blindly believe in the Chinese medicine knowledge presented in the show.
