What are the effects and functions of Humulus?

The main function of Humulus is to clear away heat and detoxify, as well as to treat diseases such as gastroenteritis, dysentery, cold, fever, or cystitis. It also has a good therapeutic effect on insect and snake bites, but do not touch it easily, because it can easily cause skin redness and swelling in some people.

1. Functions and indications

Clears away heat and detoxifies, promotes diuresis and reduces swelling. Used for hot flashes caused by pulmonary tuberculosis, gastroenteritis, dysentery, fever caused by cold, difficulty urinating, pyelonephritis, acute nephritis, cystitis, and urinary tract stones; used externally to treat carbuncles, boils, eczema, and snake bites.

2. Usage and Dosage

15~25 grams; For external use, mash the fresh product and apply externally; apply around the wound in case of snake bite.

3. Application

(1) It is used for cough caused by lung heat. It can be used together with other herbs such as Houttuynia cordata, Commelina communis, and Honeysuckle.

(2) For symptoms such as difficulty urinating due to damp-heat in the bladder, urethral pain, or blood in the urine, it can be used together with phoenix tail grass, flat atractylodes, winter melon seeds, sea sand, black mulberry, and white imperata root.

(3) It is used for symptoms such as tuberculosis cough and afternoon hot flashes. It can be used together with other herbs such as Stemona bulbifera, Scutellaria baicalensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Rehmannia root.

(4) In addition, this product can be used to treat skin eczema or skin itching, and can be used with other herbs such as Xanthium sibiricum for external washing. It can also be used to treat snake and insect bites, sores, swelling and pain by using an appropriate amount of fresh grass, washing it, and mashing it for external application.

4. Prone to allergies

Do not touch the grass with bare skin, as it may cause redness and swelling, so be careful. It should be noted that Humulus is one of the allergenic plants for autumn hay fever in my country. People with a history of pollen allergies must stay away from Humulus during its peak flowering period.