The efficacy and function of oxbow grass

The traditional Chinese medicine oxbow grass is a very good Chinese medicinal material. Oxbow grass has a very good effect in regulating the body and is also widely used in medicine. Let’s take a look together.

[Other names] Red thatch, blue flower

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Hydrangea angustifolia, a plant of the Commelinaceae family.

[Original form] Narrow-leaved water bamboo grass is a creeping herb. Hairless or pubescent. Root-like and slender. Basal leaves are small; leaf blades are linear or linear, less than 10cm long and less than 1cm wide, with short tips and sometimes pubescent underneath; stem leaves are smaller, 2.5-7cm long; leaf sheaths are sparsely hairy. The cyme is nearly capitate, terminal, with branches 2.5-7cm long, and obvious signs of bract shedding; the bracts are ovate, about 4mm long, sparse and not imbricate, and fall off early; the pedicels are about 3mm long, rising during the fruiting period; the sepals are 3, separate, membranous, less than 4mm long, and obtuse at the apex; the flowers are blue, with 3 petals, ovate, and nearly the same length as the calyx; there are 2 developed stamens, 3-4 reduced stamens, and the filaments are hairy. The capsule is indented, ridged, about 4 mm long, with a sharp tip, and 2 seeds in each chamber. Seeds radiately striped, white with fine reticulate markings, brown to tan in color. Flowering period is from May to July.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown on moist hillsides and stream sides below 1400m above sea level.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet; light; slightly bitter; cold

【Functions and indications】 Clears heat and relieves cough; detoxifies; acts as a diuretic. It is used for children with high fever, cough due to lung heat, red and swollen eyes, dysentery, carbuncle, swelling and infection, stranguria due to heat, and difficulty urinating.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 15-30g. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the introduction in the above article, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of oxbow grass. This is a medicinal material we are very familiar with, but it has many medicinal properties and functions. Therefore, I hope everyone will consume it based on their own situation.