The efficacy and function of Thousand Needle Thread Grass

For many Chinese people, traditional Chinese medicine is very trustworthy because it has a long history and few side effects. Thousand Needle Thread Grass is a common Chinese medicinal material. It has many benefits for human health. So how can we eat Thousand Needle Thread Grass? Let’s learn about it below.

[Other names] Ophiopogon japonicus, Achyranthes bidentata (Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine), Goose Intestines Vegetable (Yunnan Selected Chinese Herbal Medicine).

[Source] It is the root of Chickweed of the Caryophyllaceae family . Harvested in summer and autumn.

[Original form] Perennial scattered herb, 50 to 90 cm high. The roots are clustered, the middle part is mostly swollen and prismatic, and the outside is yellow-brown. The stem is cylindrical and bare. Leaves are opposite, linear-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 1.5-3.7 cm long, 2-7 mm wide, pointed or long-pointed at the apex, obtuse at the base, entire, with obvious main veins, green above and pink-green below; sessile. The 2-branched cymes arise from the top of the stem or peduncle; the peduncle is 3-5 cm long; there are 2 bracts, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, membranous; there are 5 calyxes, split to the base, lanceolate; there are 5 petals, white, deeply 2-lobed to the base, the lobes are elliptical, shorter than the sepals; there are 8-10 stamens; there is 1 pistil, and the styles are 3, separate. The capsule is oval, about 5 mm long, 5-toothed, and has persistent sepals. The seeds are small, brown, angular, and have protuberances.

[Habitat distribution] Growing in mountainous forest areas.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet, neutral.

【Functions and indications】Strengthen the body, nourish the liver and benefit the kidneys. It is used to treat anemia due to physical weakness, lack of energy, dizziness, palpitations, tinnitus, blurred vision, hot flashes, spermatorrhea, low back pain and weak legs, irregular menstruation, leucorrhea, and malnutrition in children.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 0.5-1 liang; or stew with meat. For external use: mash and apply.

[Additional prescription] ① Treat women with long-term leucorrhea, dizziness, tinnitus, back pain, night fever, lack of energy, and loss of appetite: 3 grams of Thousand Needle Thread Grass and 3 liang of buffalo meat. Fry and eat three or four times. (Compendium of Materia Medica in Southern Yunnan)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Southern Yunnan Materia Medica"

Through the introduction in the above article, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of the herb. I hope everyone can follow the doctor's advice when taking it, and at the same time pay attention to exercise and enhance their own resistance.