The efficacy and function of baby grass

As people's living standards improve, they pay more attention to health preservation. Many people know that the Chinese medicine Herba Epimedii is good for the body and can treat many diseases. Let’s learn about it today.

[Other names] Blue grass (Flora of Guangzhou), bright calyx grass (Names of seed plants), cockroach grass, yellow bee grass (Guangdong Traditional Chinese Medicine II), medicinal grass, and ground selfheal (Guangzhou Air Force Manual of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines).

[Source] It is the whole herb of the Acanthaceae plant , Herba Lycopodii . It can be harvested from summer to winter.

[Original morphology] Loose, multi-branched herbs. The leaves are small, ovate in the lower part, about 2 cm long, and narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate in the upper part, about 4 cm long; the petiole is 3 to 4 cm long. The inflorescence is terminal or axillary, nearly sessile or stalked, about 2.5 cm long and 6 mm in diameter, with flowers on one side; bracts are in 2 or 4 rows, those in 2 rows are often flowerless, and those without flowers are elliptic, about 4 mm long and 2 mm in diameter, with slight margins; bracts with flowers are round, acute, with membranous margins, and hairy on the back and margins; calyx is about 2 mm long, 5-parted, with lobes lanceolate and hairy; corolla is white to blue, slightly longer than calyx, 2-lipped, with the upper lip concave at the apex and the lower lip 3-lobed; 2 stamens, 2 anthers; ovary with 4 ovules. Capsule ovate or rectangular, about 3 mm long. Flowering period is from winter to spring.

[Habitat distribution] It grows on the edges of fields, slopes, and grasslands near villages. Distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places.

[Properties] The dry whole plant is about 30 cm high, with a thin and slightly hard stem, about 2 to 3 mm in diameter, dark green-brown or yellow-white, with longitudinal wrinkles, and fine roots growing near several nodes near the base, with slightly swollen nodes. It is brittle and easy to break, the pith is pinhole-shaped when crossed, and the wood is light and white. The leaves are opposite, green or gray-green, and often fall off. Inflorescence spike-shaped, with flowers on one side, most falling off; bracts green or yellow-green with membranous edges. Slight odor, light taste.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet, bitter, cool.

【Functions and indications】 Clears the liver and improves eyesight, eliminates accumulation and stops dysentery. Treat hepatitis, acute conjunctivitis, food accumulation in children, dysentery, and cervical lymph node tuberculosis.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 3 to 5 qian.

[Additional prescription] To treat joint swelling and snake bites: use 3 to 5 qian of herb, decoct in water and drink; and mash the whole fresh herb for external application, apply around the snake bite wound. (Selected Guangxi Materia Medica)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

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

Through the introduction of the above content, we can understand that the Chinese medicine Haiercao plays a very important role in many aspects. Proper consumption of baby grass has many benefits to our body.