The efficacy and function of water grass

Do you know about water grass? It is a common medicinal material. Generally, water grass is used as raw material in many places. It can also treat many physical diseases. Let’s take a look at the relevant knowledge about water grass.

[Alias] Water radish, water spinach, and leaf fragrance.

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of the cruciferous plant Herba Sesamiae.

[Original form] Marsh Herb is an annual or biennial herb. The plant is 15-50cm tall, smooth and hairless or with rare simple hairs. The stem is erect, simple or multi-branched, ribbed, often purple at the bottom, with numerous basal leaves, rosulated, deeply pinnate or macrocapital-pinnate, petiolate, 5-10cm long, 1-3cm wide, 3-7 pairs of lateral lobes, lobes broadly lanceolate or linear, with sparse teeth of varying sizes on the margins, leaf blades enlarged at the base, auricularly clasping, sometimes ciliate; stem leaves gradually smaller upwards, deeply pinnately lobed with teeth, auricularly clasping at the base. The racemes are terminal or axillary, with prolonged fruiting period and numerous flowers; 4 sepals, oblong or elliptic, 1.2-3mm long; 4 petals, yellow, cuneate or long obovate, equal to or slightly shorter than sepals; 6 stamens, 4 long and 2 short, the long stamens are about 2mm long, and the short stamens are 1.5mm long; 1 pistil, the ovary is oblong, about 2mm long, the style is short, and the stigma is capitate. The short siliques are cylindrical or elliptical, sometimes slightly curved, 3-8mm long, with swollen and veinless lobes. There are 2 rows of seeds in each chamber. The seeds are numerous, small, brown, nearly ovate and flat or heart-shaped, with concave fine reticular patterns on the surface. The flowering period is from April to July, and the fruiting period is from June to August.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in moist places or near water, such as stream banks, field edges, river sides, depressions, grasslands or sewage sides near houses.

【Properties】 Identification of properties: The surface of the stem is yellow-green, the base is purple, and has several ridges; the pith is off-white in cross section. The leaves are mostly wrinkled and broken. The complete basal leaves are deeply pinnate, with 3-7 pairs of lateral lobes. The lobes are broadly lanceolate or linear, with sparsely serrated edges, yellow-green surface, and long petioles. The stem leaves are slightly smaller, and the base is ear-shaped and clasping the stem. The short siliques are cylindrical or elliptical, slightly curved, 4-6mm long, with swollen fruit stems and green-brown color. The seeds are nearly oval and flat, 0.8-1mm long. Brown with fine reticular patterns. It has a faint smell and a spicy taste.

【Chemical composition】 The seeds contain sinapine.

【Nature and flavor】 Pungent; bitter; cool

【Meridian】 Liver; Bladder

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies; promotes diuresis and reduces swelling. It is used for wind-heat cold, sore throat, jaundice, gonorrhea, edema, arthritis, carbuncle, burns caused by hot water or fire

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 6-15g. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The effects and functions of water grass have been described in detail above, and I believe everyone has a certain understanding of it. Whether water grass has other therapeutic effects still requires further research.