The efficacy and function of shrimp claw grass

Many weeds in the wild are actually edible herbs that can treat many diseases if used in the right way. When collecting herbs, you must first understand their growth form and growth environment so that you can more accurately identify the herbs you need. Secondly, we need to understand the efficacy and effects of herbs so that we can prescribe the right medicine for the condition and avoid reactions with other foods and medicines to avoid damaging our health and failing to achieve therapeutic effects. What kind of plant is Shrimp Claw Grass and what are its functions? Let’s find out.

1. What is Shrimp Clamp Grass

Shrimp clamp grass is also known as ghost needle grass, ghost hairpin grass, crab clamp grass, fork grass, sticky grass, sticky seed, and bean dregs grass.

Bidens pilosa (scientific name: Bidens pilosa L.) is an annual herb with erect, blunt quadrangular stems. The leaves at the bottom of the stem are smaller, rarely pinnate compound leaves with leaflets, and the leaflets on both sides are elliptical or ovate-elliptical. Inflorescence 8-9 mm in diameter. The base of the involucre is covered with short soft hairs, linear and spatulate, and slightly wider at the top. There are no ligulate flowers, the disc flowers are tubular, and the crown rim has 5 teeth. Achenes are black, linear, slightly flat, ridged, with sparse tubercle-like protrusions and bristles on the upper part, and 3-4 thorns at the top with barbed hairs.

Produced in many provinces and regions of China. Grown near villages, roadsides and wastelands. Widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and America. It is a commonly used herbal medicine among the Chinese people. It has the effects of clearing away heat and detoxifying, dispersing blood stasis and activating blood circulation. It is mainly used to treat upper respiratory tract infection, sore throat, acute appendicitis, acute icteric hepatitis, gastroenteritis, rheumatic joint pain, malaria, and externally treat sores, snake bites, and swelling and pain from falls.

2. Efficacy and Function

Treatment of hypertension: Bidens pilosa has a wonderful effect in treating primary hypertension and has a significant effect on lowering cholesterol. Long-term use can effectively inhibit the formation of cerebral thrombosis and is a good medicine for preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

For treating fatigue and weakness: 50g of fresh Bidens pilosa, 10-15g each of Ardisia scabra, Polygonum multiflorum, and Psoralea corylifolia, and 7 red dates. Decoction in water. Avoid taking if suffering from metrorrhagia or vomiting blood.

For lumbago: 250-300g of fresh Bidens pilosa, decoct in water to extract juice, add appropriate amount of red dates, brown sugar and rice wine, stew and decoct, and take within 2 days

For the treatment of injuries from falls: decoct 30-60g of fresh Bidens pilosa (half the amount of dried one) in water, add 30g of rice wine, drink while warm, once a day for 3 times in a row.

For the treatment of cold, fever, and sore throat: You can use one or two grams of this product alone, decocted and taken orally, or you can use it in combination with dandelion, bone grass, etc.

For the treatment of acute simple appendicitis: you can use one or two grams of this product alone, decocted and taken orally; you can also use it in combination with Lobelia.

To treat snake bites: use 2 liang of fresh grass, decoct it and drink it; take another handful of fresh leaves, wash them, mash them and apply them to the affected area.

Treatment of diarrhea in children: Take 6-10 fresh Bidens pilosa (3-5 dried ones), soak them in water and boil them into a concentrated juice. Pour the juice into a basin with the residue and use it to fumigate and wash the feet of the sick child. For mild diarrhea, fumigate 3-4 times a day, and for severe diarrhea, fumigate 6 times a day. For children aged L to 5, wash the soles of their feet; for children aged 5 to 15, wash the soles of their feet. For those with severe diarrhea, the fumigation and washing position can be appropriately raised.

Treatment of appendicitis: Take 0.5-1 liang of dried Bidens pilosa (1.5 liang of fresh product) and decoct it, or add rock sugar, honey, and beef. Other effects: Treat malaria, dysentery, jaundice, hepatitis, acute nephritis, migraine, stomach pain, blood in urine and stool, gas gangrene, and bleeding from wounds, etc.

Functions and indications: Detoxification, wind-dispelling and dampness-removing, blood circulation and swelling-removing. It is used to treat sore throat, swelling and pain, diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice, intestinal carbuncle, furuncle, snake bites, rheumatism, and trauma.