✵The article records the herb Giant Knotweed Rhizome—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—a single plant species, Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, as well as the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Hǔ Zhànɡ
English Name: Giant Knotweed Rhizome
Latin Name:Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati Properties and Flavor: Slightly cold; bitter.
Brief Introduction:Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati is the dried rhizome of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. It is used (1) to clear heat, resolve toxins, and promote bile secretion in cases of hepatitis, jaundice, dysentery, bladder damp-heat, and lung-heat-induced cough; (2) to invigorate blood and dispel stasis for amenorrhea and traumatic injuries; and (3) externally for burns and venomous snakebite. The herb is commonly known as Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati, Giant Knotweed Rhizome, or Hǔ Zhàng.
Botanical Source:Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati (Giant Knotweed Rhizome) is the dried rhizome of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc., a perennial herb of the genus Fallopia (formerly classified under Polygonum), family Polygonaceae (smartweed or buckwheat family), order Caryophyllales. The botanical source is described as follows:
(1) Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb.et Zucc.
Botanical Description:Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. is a member of the Polygonaceae family and the genus Fallopia. It is also known as Fallopia japonica (syn. Polygonum reynoutria Makino). A perennial shrubby herb, it grows up to 1–2 meters tall. Roots are creeping, woody, tawny (yellowish-brown), with conspicuous nodes. Stems are erect, tufted, glabrous, hollow, and bear scattered purplish-red spots. Leaves are alternate; petioles are short; stipular sheaths are membranous, brown, and caducous; leaf blades are broadly ovate or ovate-elliptic, 6–12 cm long and 5–9 cm wide, with an acute apex, rounded or cuneate base, entire margins, and glabrous surfaces.
Flowers are unisexual and dioecious, arranged in axillary panicles; pedicels are slender and elongated, with a joint near the middle and narrow wings toward the apex; the perianth is 5-lobed, with lobes arranged in two whorls—the three outer lobes enlarge in fruit and develop dorsal wings; male flowers have eight stamens; female flowers have three styles with capitate stigmas.
Achenes are elliptic, trigonous, and dark brown to blackish-brown. Flowering occurs from June to August; fruiting from September to October.
Ecological Environment:Polygonum cuspidatum grows along stream banks in mountain valleys and on riversides.
Growth Characteristics:Polygonum cuspidatum prefers a mild, humid climate and is tolerant of cold and waterlogging. Soil requirements are not strict, but it thrives best in loose, fertile, well-drained soil.
Characteristics of the Herb: The rhizome is cylindrical, often cut into short cylindrical segments or irregular thick slices; it is branched, variable in length (up to 30 cm), 0.5–2.5 cm in diameter, and slightly enlarged at the nodes. The surface is tan to taupe-brown, bearing prominent vertical wrinkles, fibrous root remnants, and punctate scars where fibrous roots were attached. Bud scars and persistent stipular sheath scales occur at branch tips and nodes. Internodes measure 2–3 cm in length. The texture is firm and hard, difficult to break; the fracture surface is yellowish-brown and fibrous. The cortex separates readily from the xylem; it is thin, whereas the xylem constitutes the bulk of the cross-section, exhibiting a radial pattern with a central pith (sometimes hollow). Transverse septa are visible in longitudinal sections. The herb has a faint odor and tastes slightly bitter and puckering.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) In vitro antibacterial activity and inhibitory effects against multiple viruses; (2) hypotensive effect; (3) lipid-lowering, hepatoprotective, and capillary-dilating effects; (4) increased cardiac output and pulse pressure; (5) antitumor activity, among others.
Medicinal Efficacy: Expel wind and dispel dampness; invigorate blood and dissipate stasis; break up blood stasis; activate blood circulation; unblock meridians and alleviate pain; relieve cough and resolve phlegm; detoxify. It is indicated for wind-damp bi syndrome (arthralgia with pain or numbness), rheumatic arthralgia and myalgia (aching of tendons and bones), jaundice due to damp-heat, stranguria with turbid discharge, pathological leukorrhea, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, postpartum lochia retention, abdominal masses, hemorrhoidal bleeding, burns (thermal or scald injuries), traumatic injury, carbuncles and sores (including toxic swelling), cough with excessive phlegm, ulcerative sores and tinea, venomous snakebite, etc.
Administration of Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati (Hǔ Zhànɡ):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati (Hǔ Zhànɡ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 9–15 grams; external use: appropriate amount—prepare as aqueous decoction for washing or as ointment for topical application. (2) Internally: water decoction, 0.3–1 liang (≈9–30 grams); also used in wine infusions or prepared as pills or powders. External use: finely ground herb powder (applied directly or charred to ash and applied); paste for topical application; or soaking with decoction; (3) Internally: water decoction, 10–15 grams; also used in wine infusions or prepared as pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount—apply finely ground powder, concentrated decoction liquid, or herbal paste topically.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati should be used with caution during pregnancy and is contraindicated in pregnant women.
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References:
1.Introduction of Hu Zhang: Giant Knotweed Rhizome
✵The article records the herb Giant Knotweed Rhizome—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—a single plant species, Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, as well as the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Hǔ Zhànɡ
Botanical Description: Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. is a member of the Polygonaceae family and the genus Fallopia. It is also known as Fallopia japonica (syn. Polygonum reynoutria Makino). A perennial shrubby herb, it grows up to 1–2 meters tall. Roots are creeping, woody, tawny (yellowish-brown), with conspicuous nodes. Stems are erect, tufted, glabrous, hollow, and bear scattered purplish-red spots. Leaves are alternate; petioles are short; stipular sheaths are membranous, brown, and caducous; leaf blades are broadly ovate or ovate-elliptic, 6–12 cm long and 5–9 cm wide, with an acute apex, rounded or cuneate base, entire margins, and glabrous surfaces.
Achenes are elliptic, trigonous, and dark brown to blackish-brown. Flowering occurs from June to August; fruiting from September to October.
Characteristics of the Herb: The rhizome is cylindrical, often cut into short cylindrical segments or irregular thick slices; it is branched, variable in length (up to 30 cm), 0.5–2.5 cm in diameter, and slightly enlarged at the nodes. The surface is tan to taupe-brown, bearing prominent vertical wrinkles, fibrous root remnants, and punctate scars where fibrous roots were attached. Bud scars and persistent stipular sheath scales occur at branch tips and nodes. Internodes measure 2–3 cm in length. The texture is firm and hard, difficult to break; the fracture surface is yellowish-brown and fibrous. The cortex separates readily from the xylem; it is thin, whereas the xylem constitutes the bulk of the cross-section, exhibiting a radial pattern with a central pith (sometimes hollow). Transverse septa are visible in longitudinal sections. The herb has a faint odor and tastes slightly bitter and puckering.
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