The efficacy and function of An (艸闾)

Speaking of An (艸闾), I believe many friends know it, because it has a very good effect in treating diseases. However, some friends do not know what the specific effects of 安 (艸闾) are, so let’s take a detailed look at the effects of 安 (艸闾) here.

【English name】 all-grass of keiske Wormwood

[Other names] An (艸闾) grass, An (艸闾) pole, flood (艸闾), cover (艸闾), smelly pole, Anhao

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of the Asteraceae plant An (艸旾).

[Original form] An (艸闾), perennial herb, stem height 30-100cm. The main root is obvious, with many lateral roots; the rhizome is short, with a few nutrient branches. The stem is erect, often tufted, pubescent, and often branched above the middle. The lower leaves wither during flowering, the middle leaves are obovate, thrifty to ovate-spatulate, 4-6cm long, 2-4cm wide, obtuse at the apex, gradually narrowed at the base, cuneate, with sparse serrations or shallow lobes on the middle and upward edges; glabrous or slightly hairy above, light in color below, slightly silky; the upper leaves are oblong, slightly toothed or entire. There are many capitulums, arranged in sparse compound racemes on the stem top and branches, up to 40 cm long, with slender pedicels and tiny bracts; the involucre is spherical, 3-3.5 mm wide; the involucral bracts are 3-4 layers, green on the back, with broad membranous edges of the inner layer and no hair; there are 6-10 female flowers; the intermediate bisexual flowers have 13-18 flowers, all of which are tubular and light yellow, and the tips of the style branches of the bisexual flowers are lanceolate and acuminate. Achenes about 2mm long. Flowering and fruiting period is from August to November.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows on hillsides, roadsides, grasslands, bushes and under sparse woods.

[Properties] Characteristic identification: the stem is multi-branched and covered with soft hairs. Leaves are alternate, with broadly ovate to ovate leaf blades, with notched coarse teeth on the edges, and light color on the back with silky hairs. There are numerous, spherical inflorescences with yellow flowers.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; bitter; warm

【Functions and indications】 Removes blood stasis and promotes menstruation; eliminates dampness. Indications: amenorrhea due to blood stasis in women; bruises and swellings due to falls; rheumatic pain

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 15-30g; or grind into powder; or mash into juice and drink.

[Additional prescription] ① To treat blood stasis that persists and turns into carbuncle: Take one liter of juice from fresh Artemisia annua and drink it. (Guang Li Fang) ② Treat rheumatic joint pain: LV 50 cents to 1 tael. Decoction in water. (Su Medical Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine)

[Discussions by various scholars] 1. "Qian Jin Yi Fang": To treat phlegm and blood, take the juice of LV grass; it can also be taken in powder form, three times a day.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the detailed introduction in this article, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of the role and efficacy of An (艸闾). The several functions and effects introduced in the article are relatively common. I hope everyone can remember them and they will be helpful in your life.