The efficacy and function of Xiaohongsu

After thousands of years of sedimentation and accumulation, the types and quantities of Chinese medicine have become quite astonishing. Therefore, choosing Chinese medicine to treat some difficult and complicated diseases always has a very good effect. Next, I would like to recommend a Chinese medicine, Xiaohongsu.

[Other name] Wild woodruff leaves

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Elsholtzia ciliata, a plant of the Lamiaceae family.

[Original form] Elsholtzia ciliata, a herbaceous plant, 3-20cm tall. Stem base branched, branchlets especially in lower part prostrate or ascending, pubescent. Leaves are opposite; petiole is 2-8mm long, pubescent; leaf blade is ovate, 4-24mm long, 3-14mm wide, obtuse at apex, rounded or broadly cuneate at base, crenate at margin, densely pubescent above, pubescent below, with long and dense veins and glandular dots. The cymes are densely packed with many flowers in a pseudospike, 1-1.5cm long, growing at the top of stems and branches, biased to one side; bracts are round, about 3mm long and wide, with pointed awns at the tip, pubescent on the outside, ciliated on the edges, and purple veins; calyx is tubular, about 5mm long, pubescent on the outside, with white pubescent, 5 calyx teeth, lanceolate-subulate, ciliate, the first 2 teeth are longer, thorn-awn at the tip, corolla is reddish purple, about 8mm long, pubescent and glandular on the outside, upper lip erect, slightly emarginate at the apex, ciliated to the north, entire, lower lip 3-lobed, middle lobe rounded, entire, lateral lobes arcuate; stamens 4, the front pair is longer, all protruding, filaments glabrous; ovary 4-lobed, style thin, protruding, stigma 2-lobed. The nutlets are oblong, about 1 mm long, and light yellow. The flowering period is from September to November, and the fruiting period is from October to December or December of the following year or February of the following year.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing on hillside grasslands, open grasslands, open areas, roadsides, under forests or in thickets at an altitude of 1300-2800m.

[Properties] Identification of properties: stem length 3-20cm, branched from the base, branchlets covered with short soft hairs; brittle. The leaves are rolled and wrinkled, flattened and oval, 0.4-2.4cm long and 0.3-1.4cm wide, dark green above, densely covered with short soft hairs, light green below, covered with short soft hairs, with sparse or inconspicuous glandular dots. Sometimes there are spikes, 1-1.5 cm long, with reddish purple corolla. The nutlets are oblong, about 0.1 cm long, and dark brown. It has a unique fragrance after rubbing. The taste is cool and cool.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; slightly warm

【Functions and indications】Relieve heat; eliminate dampness and kill insects. Mainly used for summer cold; fever and headache; no sweat and heaviness; abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, edema; sores; vaginal trichomoniasis

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 3-9g. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application; or decoct it in water for washing.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

In fact, you will only know its benefits after practicing it. Just like the traditional Chinese medicine Xiaohongsu introduced above, it turns out that Xiaohongsu can also treat some other diseases. Therefore, eating it in moderation has many benefits.