Introduction of Bai Hua She She Cao:Oldenlandia or Herba Oldenlandiae.
✵The article gives records of the herb Oldenlandia, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Hedyotis diffusa Willd., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Oldenlandia, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Herba Oldenlandiae(Oldenlandia).
Pin Yin Name: Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo.
English Name: Oldenlandia.
Latin Name: Herba Oldenlandiae.
Property and flavor: cool, bitter, sweet.
Brief introduction: The herb Herba Oldenlandiae is the dried entire plant of Oldenlandia diffusa (Willd.) Roxb., Oldenlandia corymbosa L. and other related species, used to clear heat, counteract toxins, remove damp, and relieve stranguria for the treatment of boils, sores, abscesses, venomous snake-bite, and heat stranguria. The herb is commonly known as Herba Oldenlandiae, Oldenlandia, Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo.
Botanical source: Herbal classic book and official herbal classics defined the herb Herba Oldenlandiae (Oldenlandia) as the dried entire plant of (1).Hedyotis diffusa Willd. It is a plant of the Hedyotis L. Genus, Rubiaceae family (madder family), Rubiales order plant. This commonly used species is introduced:
(1).Hedyotis diffusa Willd.
Botanical description: Hedyotis diffusa Willd is commonly known as Oldenlandia diffusa (Willd.) Roxb., or Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo (means White Snake Tongue Grass), or èr Yè Lǜ (means bilobate hops). An annual, spreading herb, the plant grows up to 15~50 cm tall. Roots are thin and long, branched, and white. The stem is slightly square or flat cylindrical, smooth and glabrous, many branched from the base. Leaves are opposite; sessile; leaf blades are linear to linear-lanceolate, 1~3.5 cm long, 1~3 mm wide, the apex is sharp-pointed, the upper surface is smooth, the undersurface is slightly rough sometimes, lateral veins are inconspicuous; stipules are membranous, base connate to a sheath, 1~2 mm long, the apex is aristiform (awn-shaped).
Flowers are solitary or paired in leaf axils, often have short and thick pedicels, rarely sessile; the hypanthium (calyx tube) is globular, 4-lobed, calyx lobes are oblong-lanceolate, 1.5 mm long, the margin has cilia; corolla is white, funnel form (funnel shape), 3.5~4 mm long, the apex is 4-parted, lobes are ovate-oblong, about 2 mm long, glabrate; 4 stamens, insert in the corolla throat part, alternate with corolla lobes, filaments are oblate, anthers are oval (egg-shaped), dorsiferous, 2-loculed, longitudinally dehiscent; the ovary is inferior, 2 cells. Stigma is 2-lobed and semiglobe (semi-spherical).
Capsularfruit is oblate sphere or spheroidic, 2~2.5 mm in diameter, loculicidal, and the calyx is persistent. Seeds are yellowish brown, small and tiny, and see has three edges. Its flowering period is from July to September, and the fruiting period is from August to October.
Ecological environment: The plant grows on wet field sides, ditch sides, roadsides, and in grasslands. The plant is mainly distributed in the southeast to the southwest areas of China.
Growth characteristics: The plant Hedyotis diffusa Willd prefers a warm and humid environment and is not resistant to drought and waterlogging, its soil requirements are not strict, but it grows better in fertile sandy loam or humus loam.
Characters of herbs: The whole herb twisted into a ball or mass, celadon (sage green or gray-green) to taupe brown. The main root (taproot) is thin and long, about 2 mm thick, and the fibrous roots are slender and thin, pale taupe brown (pale grayish brown). The stem is thin, curly, brittle, and easily broken, and the central pith is white. Leaves are wrinkled, broken, and easy to fall off; stipules are 1~2 mm long. Flowers and fruits are solitary or paired in leaf axils, and flowers often have short and slightly thick pedicels. The fruit is spheroidic, 2~2.5 mm in diameter, loculicidal, the top of the persistent calyx is 4-lobed, and the edge has short bristlelike hairs. The herb has a slight odor, and it tastes mild.
Pharmacological actions: ①.anti-tumor effect, the antibacterial effect is not significant; ②.weak effect on staphylococcus aureus and dysentery bacillus, high concentration decoction of the herb can inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa, typhoid bacillus and proteus; ③.enhance the phagocytosis of white blood cells; ④.anti-inflammatory effect.
Medicinal efficacy: Clear heat and detoxification, remove dampness through diuresis, prompt diuresis and detumescence (reduce swelling), activate blood circulation and stanch pain. It is indicated for periappendicular abscess (appendicitis), lung heat and asthma cough, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sore throat and swelling pain, dampness-heat jaundice, hepatitis, dysuria (difficulty in micturition), urinary tract infection, pyretic stranguria and pain, edema, dysentery, pelvic inflammation, appendagitis, carbuncle and ulcer, malignant boils, venomous snake bite, tumor, it can also be used for cancer of digestive tract.
Administration of Herba Oldenlandiae (Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Herba Oldenlandiae (Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo)
TCM Books:
①.Internally:0.5~2 liang (about 15~60 grams),water decoction.Externally:proper amount,mashed and apply stick at affected area; ②.Internally:water decoction, 1~2 liang (about 30~60 grams),or extract juice.Externally:mashed and apply stick;③.Internally:water decoction, 15~30 grams, big dosage could be 60 grams,or extract juice.Externally:mashed and apply stick.
Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions: the herb Herba Oldenlandiae should be used cautiously during pregnancy.
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References:
1.Introduction of Bai Hua She She Cao:Oldenlandia or Herba Oldenlandiae.
✵The article gives records of the herb Oldenlandia, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Hedyotis diffusa Willd., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Oldenlandia, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo.
Botanical description: Hedyotis diffusa Willd is commonly known as Oldenlandia diffusa (Willd.) Roxb., or Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo (means White Snake Tongue Grass), or èr Yè Lǜ (means bilobate hops). An annual, spreading herb, the plant grows up to 15~50 cm tall. Roots are thin and long, branched, and white. The stem is slightly square or flat cylindrical, smooth and glabrous, many branched from the base. Leaves are opposite; sessile; leaf blades are linear to linear-lanceolate, 1~3.5 cm long, 1~3 mm wide, the apex is sharp-pointed, the upper surface is smooth, the undersurface is slightly rough sometimes, lateral veins are inconspicuous; stipules are membranous, base connate to a sheath, 1~2 mm long, the apex is aristiform (awn-shaped).
Ecological environment: The plant grows on wet field sides, ditch sides, roadsides, and in grasslands. The plant is mainly distributed in the southeast to the southwest areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The whole herb twisted into a ball or mass, celadon (sage green or gray-green) to taupe brown. The main root (taproot) is thin and long, about 2 mm thick, and the fibrous roots are slender and thin, pale taupe brown (pale grayish brown). The stem is thin, curly, brittle, and easily broken, and the central pith is white. Leaves are wrinkled, broken, and easy to fall off; stipules are 1~2 mm long. Flowers and fruits are solitary or paired in leaf axils, and flowers often have short and slightly thick pedicels. The fruit is spheroidic, 2~2.5 mm in diameter, loculicidal, the top of the persistent calyx is 4-lobed, and the edge has short bristlelike hairs. The herb has a slight odor, and it tastes mild.
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