The efficacy and function of Water General

Traditional Chinese medicine is very helpful in treating certain diseases, so you can feel free when choosing herbs. Water General is a medicinal material that is not unfamiliar to us. Do you know its effects and functions? Let's take a look.

[Other names] Water lettuce, soft stomach grass, ground lettuce, ground willow, small peach tree, one-legged arrow, red-stem arrow

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Lobelia simaoensis of the Campanulaceae family.

[Original form] Simao narrow-leaved lobelia is a perennial herb, 30-100cm tall. The rhizome is short, with well-developed and slightly enlarged fibrous roots. Stem cylindrical, erect, unbranched. The leaves are relatively large, with basal leaves elliptic or oblong-elliptic, hairy when young, and with long petioles; stem leaves are narrow oblong to linear-lanceolate, spirally arranged, obtuse at the apex and with veins extending into acupuncture points, gradually narrowing at the base, and with fine and small teeth on the edges; almost sessile or with short petioles with broad wings. The raceme is terminal, 15-30cm long, with sparse flowers; the flowers on the inflorescence face in multiple directions; the bracts are much longer than the flowers, lanceolate to linear; the calyx tube is semi-elliptical, the lobes are linear, 10-12mm long and about 1mm wide; the corolla is purple-blue or sky blue, rarely white, colorless, nearly two-lipped, the lobes of the upper lip are linear, and the lobes of the lower lip are ovate-short round; the filament tube is glabrous. 7-9mm long, anther tube about 5mm long, with sparse setae on the back. The capsule is ovoid-spherical, 4-6mm in diameter, and the seeds are elliptical and slightly flattened. Flowering and fruiting period is September-October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in valley shrubs or wet grasslands at an altitude of 1000-3000m.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; warm; toxic

【Meridian】 Return to the lung meridian

【Functions and indications】 Dispel wind and relieve pain; disperse blood stasis and reduce swelling. Mainly used for colds, headaches, stomachaches, injuries from falls, and back pain

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 10-15g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above is an introduction to the functions of Water General. When using it, you can do so according to the needs mentioned above. Water General is also very helpful in treating certain diseases.