The efficacy and function of Huguang grass

Many people are not very clear about the effects and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine Huguangcao. Let’s take a look at it below.

【English Name】 Herb of Creeping Sage

[Other names] Danshen, black sha grass, salt cough medicine, small annealing grass

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

[Original form] Buddha's light grass, annual, 10-40cm. The fibrous roots are dense. Stems pubescent or pubescent. Most basal leaves are simple, while stem leaves are simple or tripartite. Simple leaves are ovate, 1-3 cm long, nearly glabrous, and leaflets are ovate, with terminal ones being larger. The cymes have 2-8 flowers, which are sparse and form terminal and axillary pseudoracemes; the bracts are ovate; the calyx is bell-shaped, 3-4mm long, covered with fine soft hairs and glandular dots, the upper lip is entire, the lower lip has 2 teeth, the teeth are ovate-triangular; the corolla is light pink or lavender, the upper lip is straight, and the lower lip is 3-lobed; the filaments are about 1mm long, the connective is short, less than 1mm long, arc-shaped, and the upper and lower walls are equal in length. The nutlets are oval and light brown. Flowering period is from March to May.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in moist places such as forest edges, ditches, and rock crevices at an altitude of 40-950m.

[Pharmacological action] It has antitussive, antiasthmatic and expectorant effects. 8mg/ml and 17mg/ml of Huguangcao decoction have a relaxing effect on the histamine-induced contraction of the isolated guinea pig trachea. Intraperitoneal injection of 10g/kg of the decoction into mice had a significant antitussive effect on ammonia mist-induced cough, but oral administration was ineffective. No significant changes were observed in the respiratory secretions of rats after oral administration of 20 g/kg of the decoction.

【Nature and flavor】 Slightly bitter; neutral

【Meridian】 Liver; Kidney

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and resolves phlegm; benefits the kidneys; regulates menstruation; stops bleeding. Mainly used for lung heat, cough, sputum, wheezing, vomiting blood, kidney deficiency, backache, frequent urination, leucorrhea, menorrhagia

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 15-30g; stew with meat. For external use: take a certain amount and mash the fresh product for application.

[Discussions by various scholars] 1. "List of Medicinal Plants in Guangxi": Treats sha disease and spider sores.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

This is all we have to say about the efficacy of Huguang grass. I hope it will be helpful to you. Although the value of Huguang grass is very high, we must be cautious when eating it.