The efficacy and function of water hibiscus

Water hibiscus is a traditional Chinese medicine. It has high medicinal value and has a good health-care effect on some diseases. In our lives, many medicines use water hibiscus as the main ingredient, but there are still many taboos that need to be paid attention to when taking water hibiscus.

[Other names] Sparrow grass (List of plants on Lingnan University Campus), water pipe, trident grass (Handbook of commonly used Chinese herbal medicines of Guangzhou Army), water mint, water lily (Guangdong Chinese Herbal Medicine).

[Source] It is the whole herb of Perilla frutescens, a plant of the Scrophulariaceae family. Available all year round.

[Original morphology] Perennial erect or oblique herb, creeping base, 15 to 30 cm high. The stem is hollow, cylindrical, light green, noded, fleshy, and the whole plant has a fragrance. Leaves are opposite or in whorls of 3; lanceolate, 1.5-4 cm long, mucronate at apex, semi-amplexicaul at base, with small serrations on margins and glandular dots on leaves; sessile. Flowers are usually solitary in leaf axils, and several flowers may be arranged in racemes; sepals are lanceolate, usually shorter than pedicels, about 5 mm long; corolla is light pink or white, about 1 cm long. Capsule oblong. Flowering period is October.

[Habitat distribution] Growing in wetlands such as ditches, fields, and swamps. Distributed throughout South China.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy, cool.

【Functions and indications】 Guangzhou Army "Common Chinese Herbal Medicine Handbook": "It clears away heat and detoxifies, reduces swelling and relieves itching. It can treat snake bites, sores, carbuncle, swelling, ringworm, and skin itching."

[Usage and Dosage] For internal use: decocted in water, 1-5 qian (0.5-1 liang for fresh); or soaked in wine. For external use: mash and apply, squeeze the juice to apply or decoct and use for washing.

【Note】 Pregnant women should not take this medicine.

[Additional prescription] ① Treating snake bites: 50 cents of Water Hibiscus, 80 cents of Andrographis paniculata, mash them and add appropriate amount of rice wine, take the liquid orally, and apply the residue around the wound. (Guangdong Chinese Herbal Medicine)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From the Guangzhou Army’s “Handbook of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines”.

Through the introduction of the effects and functions of water hibiscus, everyone knows its magic. In fact, there are many seemingly ordinary people or things in life that contain power that we cannot imagine. Now that everyone knows the magical therapeutic effects and functions of water hibiscus, you can try it to test whether it is effective.