What are the effects and functions of knotweed?

In many people's impressions, knotweed is just an inconspicuous little grass with no medical effects at all. However, the facts prove that this is not the case. Knotweed has the effects of clearing heat and promoting diuresis, removing phlegm and relieving cough, and treating bronchitis. The method of eating it is also very simple. You can just boil it into a soup and drink it.

1. The efficacy and function of knotweed

[Nature and flavor and meridians] Sweet, slightly bitter, neutral.

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat, promotes diuresis, improves eyesight and removes cataracts, eliminates phlegm and relieves cough. Used for red and swollen eyes, corneal opacity, hepatitis, cough, bronchitis, and urinary tract infection.

1. "Compendium of Materia Medica": Equisetum arvense has the same shape and nature as ephedra, so it can also induce sweating, relieve muscle pain, disperse fire stagnation and rheumatism, and treat various blood diseases of the eyes.

2. "Bencao Jingshu": Horsetail herb is the main treatment for eye diseases, removes cataracts, benefits the liver and gallbladder and improves eyesight. It is used to treat blockages of wood, intestinal wind, dysentery, and treat women's continuous menstruation, metrorrhagia, red and white bleeding, and hemorrhoidal bleeding. It enters the blood and benefits the liver and gallbladder because the liver stores blood.

3. "Ben Jing Feng Yuan": Equisetum arvense is used to treat wind-heat in the eyes, sudden cataracts, stop tears, and disperse wind in the liver and lungs.

4. "Bencao Qiuzhen": Equisetum arvense, the book says that its shape and quality are similar to ephedra, and its ascending and dispersing effects are also quite similar, but it is not pungent and hot, and it enters the foot Shaoyang gallbladder and the foot Jueyin liver, and can dispel wind-heat in the blood of the two meridians, so that the blood can flow to the eyes, so it is an important agent for removing cataracts and improving eyesight. It is not like ephedra, which is pungent and dry in nature, and specifically opens the Wei pores to cause profuse sweating.

2. Usage and dosage of knotweed

Decoction, 3-5 qian (1-2 liang for fresh ones); For external use of knotweed: decoct in water for washing or mash and apply.

3. Taboos on eating knotweed

1. Oral administration of knotweed: Taking knotweed continuously for one month has better effects and exceeds its toxic effects.

2. "Compendium of Materia Medica" says that "taking too much of knotweed will damage the liver and should not be taken for a long time."

3. Excessive use of knotweed may cause coagulation disorders, pulmonary insufficiency, etc.

4. Additional prescription for knotweed

1. To treat conjunctivitis: 50 cents each of pen holder grass, money grass, four-leaf clover, pearl grass, and coix seed. Decoction in water for oral administration. (Chongqing Herbs)

2. To treat eye fog: decoct the herb in water, wash with it and take it internally. (Chongqing Herbs)

3. To treat acute stranguria: 1 liang of knotweed and 0.5 liang of rock sugar. Add water and decoct. (Fujian Folk Herbs)