The efficacy and function of ghost feather arrow

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

[Other names] Black grass (Wild Resource Plants of Guangxi), young gram grass, gram grass (Nanning Pharmacopoeia), black bone grass, feather arrow (Guangdong Traditional Chinese Medicine).

[Source] It is the whole herb of the Scrophulariaceae plant. Harvest in autumn. Remove impurities, sun-dry until half-dry, collect and pile up, cover with linen cloth, simmer for two days, and then dry.

[Original morphology] Annual erect herb, 15 to 45 cm tall. Roots short and underdeveloped. The stem is slender, hollow, cylindrical, slightly square at the top, solitary and slightly branched, covered with grayish white erect or recumbent short hairs. Leaves are opposite, radicular leaves are broadly obovate or ovate, about 2.5 to 5 cm long, obtuse at the apex, entire, and pubescent on both sides; stem leaves are sparse, oblong or lanceolate, obtuse at the apex, entire or serrated, the upper leaves are narrow and alternate; the main vein below is slightly prominent, and both sides are pubescent; petioles are extremely short or absent. The flowers are purple-blue, arranged in quadrangular or rectangular spikes, less than 2.5 cm long; there are 2 bracts, triangular-lanceolate or broadly ovate, covered with rough short hairs inside and outside; the calyx is 5-lobed, the lobes are linear, and covered with recumbent short hairs outside; the corolla tube is about twice as long as the calyx, with densely coarse and long hairs at the throat and 5 lobes at the tip; there are 4 stamens, hidden inside, the filaments are light purple, T-shaped, and black; there is 1 pistil, and the style is rod-shaped. The capsule is rectangular, flattened, gradually pointed at the apex, with persistent calyx and split ventrally, containing dozens of tiny black seeds. Flowering period is from May to September.

[Habitat distribution] Growing in short grass on hillside roadsides or in the suburbs. Distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan and other places. Produced in Guangxi, Guangdong and other places.

[Properties] The whole plant is dried, black or dark brown, slightly covered with white hairs. The stem is hollow; the radicular leaves are ovate or obovate, and the cauline leaves are linear. The top often carries an inflorescence or fruit. It has a faint smell and a slightly bitter taste. The best ones are black in color and have tender stems.

【Properties and flavors】 ① Nanning Pharmacopoeia: "bitter, cold, non-toxic."

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat, cools blood and detoxifies. Treats rashes, typhoid fever, epilepsy, and skin swelling and pain caused by wind toxins.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 2 to 5 qian.

【Note】 "Guangxi Chinese Medicine Annals": "People with weak constitution and pregnant women should not take this medicine."

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Essentials of the Nature of Raw Herbs"

The above is an introduction to some relevant knowledge about the Ghost Feather Arrow. Do you have a better understanding of it? I hope everyone can apply the ghost feather arrow in life to serve our health.