What is the difference between small tongcao and large tongcao?

In traditional Chinese medicine, small tongcao and large tongcao are both common medicinal herbs. Because they differ by one character, many people think that the two medicinal herbs are actually the same, just with different sizes. In fact, according to experts, big tongcao and small tongcao are completely different, so what is the difference between them? In fact, we can distinguish small tongcao and tongcao based on their efficacy, indications and properties.

1. What is the difference between Xiaotongcao and Tongcao

Tongcao has a long history of being used as medicine and is a commonly used Chinese medicine in clinical practice. However, in actual work, people often use small tongcao as tongcao, or mix tongcao and small tongcao. In fact, Tongcao and Xiaotongcao are two medicines with similar names but different sources.

Tongcao is the dried stem pith of the Araliaceae plant Tongtu wood; Xiaotongcao is the dried stem pith of the Araliaceae plant Himachalpine Juniperus, Chinese Juniperus or Cornaceae plant Green Pod leaf.

The functions and indications of Xiaotongcao are clearing away heat, promoting diuresis, and promoting lactation. It is used for urinary problems, lack of milk, and urinary tract infection. The functions and indications of Tongcao are clearing away heat and promoting diuresis, ventilating and promoting lactation. It is used for red urine caused by damp heat, painful gonorrhea, edema, oliguria and lack of lactation.

However, pharmacological experiments have found that different varieties of Tongcao and Xiaotongcao have good diuretic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects, providing a certain pharmacological basis for their clinical application. In the study of the chemical composition of Tongcao, it was found that Tongcao and small Tongcao medicinal materials are rich in polysaccharides, and preliminary pharmacological experiments have shown that polysaccharides have certain immune regulation and antioxidant effects.

2. Characteristics of Xiaotongcao

Small Tongcao, also known as Small Tonghua, is a deciduous shrub or small tree, up to 5m tall. The branches are densely covered with small white lenticels. It grows in hillside forests at an altitude of 500-2900m or in the shade and wet areas at the edge of forests. It is native to China and can grow in the Yangtze River Basin and south of the Qinling Mountains. It likes sunlight, is slightly shade-tolerant, has strong adaptability, and is relatively cold-resistant. It grows best in well-drained sandy soil or light clay loam.

The dried stem pith is round and strip-shaped, 80 to 120 cm long and 8 to 12 mm in diameter. The surface is flat and has no texture, white in color, and has no hollowness in the middle. The texture is light and soft, and it feels slippery when soaked in water. The ones with even strips and white color are better.