The efficacy and function of the inverted grass

Invertebrate is a traditional Chinese medicine. In addition to the effects we know in daily life, in fact, invertebrate has many other effects and functions. Let’s take a look at them right away.

[Other names] Ox tongue rhubarb, ox tongue, fish scale grass ("Lingnan Herbal Collection Record"), hook grass, inverted stem grass ("Flora of Guangzhou"), rag sticky, white base Achyranthes bidentata, chicken bone grass ("Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine"), ox seven wind, white Achyranthes bidentata, goose knee ("Guangxi Chinese Veterinary Medicine Plant"), inverted stroke grass ("Nanning City Pharmacy"), inverted swallow, inverted hanging grass ("Wild Medicinal Plant Illustrations"), chicken bone stagnation, otter nose ("Quanzhou Materia Medica"), barb grass (Guangzhou Army "Common Chinese Herbal Medicine Handbook"), tiger whip grass, sticky body grass, duck foot festival ("Fujian Chinese Herbal Medicine"), iron horse whip, pinch nose grass ("Practical Chinese Herbal Medicine"), inverted grass (Guangzhou Air Force "Common Chinese Herbal Medicine Handbook")

[Source] It is the whole herb of Achyranthes bidentata, a plant of the Amaranthaceae family.

[Original form] Annual or biennial erect herb, about 1 meter high. The stem is multi-branched, spreading, cylindrical, purple-red, often with yellow-brown longitudinal textures, obvious and swollen nodes, young branches are square, with longitudinal ridges, blue-green or purple-red, covered with short white hairs, which gradually fall off when old. Leaves are opposite, oblong-obovate to elliptical or obovate, 3-10 cm long, 1-4 cm wide, gradually pointed at apex, narrow at base, entire, densely covered with procumbent hairs on both sides. The spike inflorescence is terminal, extended, 4 to 15 cm long, with green flowers, about 4 mm long, erect in bud, and close to the rachis after opening; there are 2 bracts, cone-pointed, firm, usually slightly shorter than the calyx, with membranous and transparent sides on the base; there are 5 stamens, T-shaped, filaments purple-red, and the reduced stamens are eyelash-like, surrounding the ovary; the ovary is inverted conical, with a single style and an undivided stigma. The capsule is small, oblong, covered by the persistent calyx and not exposed, light brown, about 3 mm long, and inverted on the rachis. The flowering period is from summer to autumn to the following spring.

[Habitat distribution] Distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Fujian, Hunan, Shandong, Jiangsu and other places.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter, pungent, cold.

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat, relieves exterior symptoms, promotes diuresis and promotes blood circulation. Treat colds, fever, dysentery, malaria, sore throat, athlete's foot, and gonorrhea. Edema, traumatic injury.

[Usage and Dosage] For internal use: decocted in water, 3-5 qian (1-2 liang for fresh ones). For external use: decoct in water for washing or mash for application.

【Note】 "Fujian Folk Herbs": "Pregnant women should not use it."

[Additional prescription] ① For the treatment of gonorrhea: 6 qian to 1 liang of fresh whole herb of Tiger Whip Grass (4 to 6 qian of dried herb). Take it before decoction and meals, once a day. (Fujian Folk Herbs)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Records of Collecting Medicinal Herbs in Lingnan"

The above is an introduction to some relevant knowledge about the upside-down grass. Do you have a better understanding of it? I hope everyone can apply the herb to our lives to serve our health.