The efficacy and function of Amaranthus

We know that there are many kinds of Chinese medicinal materials, and Amaranthus tricolor is one of them. In order for Amaranthus to play its role correctly and scientifically, it is necessary to master the method of eating it, because different medicinal materials have their own unique nutrition and efficacy. Let’s study it below.

[Other names] Amaranthus, sea clams containing pearls, scooping golden pearls (Illustrated Records of Plant Names and Realities), Liuhe grass, half-sided pearls (Herbal Prescriptions), wild jute (Tianbao Materia Medica), Wangwan holding real pearls, dung bucket grass (Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine), blood-seeing sorrow (Anhui Medicinal Materials), Phoenix eye grass (Compilation of Medicinal Materials), meat grass, water-spraying grass (Guangxi Chinese Veterinary Medicine Plants), small ear grass, big green grass (Jiangsu Plant Medicine Records), cat's eye grass, clam grass (Nanning City Medicine Records), pearls hidden in leaves, dysentery grass (Jiangxi Folk Herbal Medicines), wild hemp grass (Southern Fujian Folk Herbal Medicines), clam shell grass, iron lamp bowl, tube grass (Sichuan Chinese Medicine Records), seven lamps (Chongqing Herbal Medicines), blood bag, bag mouth (Chinese Medicinal Plant Illustrations), skin-picked pearls, pearl grass, gourd pearls, field

[Source] It is the whole herb of Amaranthus tricolor , a plant of the Euphorbiaceae family. Harvest from May to July, remove the soil and dry in the sun.

[Original form] Annual herb, 30 to 50 cm tall. The leaves are alternate, ovate-rhombus to elliptical, 2.5-8 cm long, 1.5-3.5 cm wide, gradually pointed at the apex, cuneate at the base, with blunt teeth on the margins, and hairy or nearly glabrous on both sides. The flowers are unisexual, monoecious, with axillary spikes; male inflorescences are very short, 2-10 mm long, and grown in very small bracts; female inflorescences are grown in leaf-like bracts; bracts are kidney-shaped when open, 1-2 cm long, and like clams when closed, with blunt serrations on the edges and a heart-shaped base; calyx is 4-lobed; no petals; 8 stamens; ovary is 3-chambered. The capsule is small, triangular-semicircular, and covered with coarse hairs; the seeds are ovate, about 2 mm long, and gray-brown. Flowering period is from May to July. Fruiting period is from July to October.

[Habitat distribution] It grows in the wilderness and in relatively moist places on the roadside. Distributed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River and areas south of the Yangtze River. Mainly produced in Jiangsu. It is also produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Sichuan, Jiangxi, Anhui and other places.

[Properties] The whole plant is dried with roots. The roots branch out from the rhizome in whisker-like shapes. The surface of the stem is gray-purple or gray-brown, about 30 cm long, and densely covered with white hairs. The texture is hard and easy to break, the cross section is flake-like, yellow-white in color, with loose white pith or a cavity in the center. The remaining leaves on the upper part of the stem are mostly broken and wrinkled. It has a slight fragrance and a light taste.

[Chemical composition] May contain alkaloids, glycosides, reducing sugars or other reducing substances, tannins, starch, oils or waxes, etc.

[Pharmacological action] The decoction of Amaranthus tricolor has antibacterial effect on several common Shigella dysenteriae in vitro, especially Shigella dysenteriae (2-fold dilution method in test tube). When the dilution degree is 1:256, it not only has antibacterial effect, but also has bactericidal effect. It is second most effective against Shigella dysenteriae and Shigella flexneri, and least effective against Shigella sonnei. Tablets made from Amaranthus ferox also have the same anti-Shigella dysenteriae effect in vitro. 50% Amaranthus tricolor decoction has different degrees of antibacterial effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Bacillus anthracis, and Shigella dysenteriae in vitro (agar plate method); its roots, stems, and leaves all contain antibacterial ingredients, but the antibacterial efficacy of different parts of the plant seems to be different for different bacteria; Amaranthus tricolor alcohol extract also has the same antibacterial effect.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter, neutral.

[Entry into meridians] "Quanzhou Materia Medica": "Enters the heart, lung, large and small intestine meridians."

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat, promotes diuresis, kills parasites and stops bleeding. Treat dysentery, diarrhea, coughing and vomiting blood, blood in the stool, uterine bleeding, malnutrition, abdominal distension, dermatitis, eczema, and traumatic bleeding.

[Usage and Dosage] For internal use: decoct in water, 3-5 qian (1-2 liang for fresh ones); for external use: mash and apply.

【Note】 "Quanzhou Materia Medica" states: "Pregnant women should avoid using this medicine, and the elderly, weak and people with weak qi should use it less."

[Additional prescription] ① Treat dysentery and swelling: Amaranthus tricolor, Cinnabar herb, and Rhizoma Cyperi. Decoction in water. (Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Records)

【Clinical application】 ①Treatment of bacillary dysentery and enteritis

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Illustrated Records of Plant Names and Realities"

The above is an introduction to the effects and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine Amaranthus tricolor. Amaranthus tricolor is very helpful for human diseases, but it is worth noting that we should use symptomatic medication according to our personal physical condition and avoid indiscriminate consumption.