The efficacy and function of four square grass

In modern life, everyone is very familiar with various Chinese herbal medicines, among which Sifangcao is a very common one. So what are the effects and functions of Sifangcao? Let’s take a look.

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of the Lamiaceae plant.

[Original form] Long-leaf fragrant tea, perennial herb, stem height 40-60cm. Often with runners, ascending, quadrangular above the base, with shallow grooves, and covered with millet-colored beaded, noded, short, scaly, short hairs. Leaves opposite; petiole short, sometimes nearly sessile; leaf blade narrowly lanceolate, 2.4-7.5cm long, 0.6-2.1cm wide, apex acuminate, base narrowly cuneate, margin sparsely or densely serrated from the middle upwards, with scaly short stiff hairs on veins above, and covered with purple-brown glandular dots below, with scaly short stiff hairs on veins or nearly glabrous. The panicle is terminal, 4-30cm long, and composed of cymes; the bracts at the bottom are leaf-like, gradually becoming smaller and bract-like upwards; the bracts are ovate, lanceolate or linear; the calyx is small, bell-shaped, about 2mm long when flowering, with obvious 10 veins, covered with brown glandular dots, and covered with short scaly hairs or nearly glabrous on the veins, with 5 calyx teeth, slightly shorter than the calyx tube, two-lipped, the last 3 teeth are small, the first 3 teeth are larger, all ovate, and the calyx is about 3mm long when fruiting, slightly drooping, and the lower lip is obviously longer than the upper lip; the corolla is pink or white, 6-7mm long, the corolla tube is straight, widening upwards, the corolla brim is sparsely covered with red glandular dots, two-lipped, the upper lip has purple spots, is only half the length of the corolla tube, with 4 circular fissures, the lobes are ovate, extremely outward, the lower lip is nearly as long as the corolla tube, narrowly ovate, stretched, and flat; the stamens and style are long and extended. The nutlets are very small, oval and slightly flat. The flowering period is from November to January of the following year, and the fruiting period is from December to January of the following year.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows near water or in wet places under forests.

[Chemical composition] The aerial part contains 6,7-dehydroroyleanone, β-sitosterol and 16-acetoxy-7α-methoxyroyleanone.

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and dampness; promotes blood circulation and dissipates blood stasis. Mainly used for acute icteric hepatitis; acute cholecystitis; edema; heat stroke; bruises and blood stasis; breast sores

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 15-30g, double the amount for fresh products. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the above introduction, let us understand the relevant knowledge of Sifangcao. If we can give full play to the efficacy of Sifangcao, it can help us solve some physical diseases. Therefore, many people regard it as their own health care choice.