Effects and functions of Ajuga

Ajuga is a medicinal herb that is quite common in life. We can eat Ajuga appropriately. Since many people don’t know much about Ajuga, let’s take a look at it below.

[Other names] White-haired selfhen, scattered blood grass, golden wound grass, green fish gall grass, bitter grass, bitter ground gall

[Source] The whole herb of Ajuga decumbens Thunb., a plant of the genus Ajuga in the family Lamiaceae. It can be collected in spring, summer and autumn, and used dried or fresh.

[Preparation] Wash, dry and chop.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter, cold.

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies, cools blood and soothes the liver. Used for upper respiratory tract infection, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, lung abscess, gastroenteritis, hepatitis, appendicitis, mastitis, acute conjunctivitis, and hypertension; used externally to treat bruises, traumatic bleeding, carbuncles, boils, burns, and snake bites.

[Usage and Dosage] 0.5-2 liang; for external use, mash an appropriate amount and apply to the affected area.

[Remarks] (1) For patients with sore and swollen throat, or even fever, taking one or two liang of this herb alone, decocted and taken orally, has a good therapeutic effect. It can be used to treat lung heat cough with thick yellow sputum, and can be used in combination with expectorant and cough suppressant drugs such as Peucedanum chinense, Herba Forsythiae, and Loquat Leaves. It is used to treat heat furuncles, carbuncles and other symptoms. In addition to taking the decoction internally, you can also mash the fresh grass for external application. For bleeding from external injuries, you can grind hay into powder and spread it on the wound for bandage. To treat blood stasis, swelling and pain, take an appropriate amount of fresh grass, mash it and apply it externally.

【Excerpt】 National Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicines

【Source】 Handbook of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines in the North

The above content is an introduction to the traditional Chinese medicine Ajuga. We should learn more about Ajuga in our daily life so that we can use it more reasonably and better realize its value.