Introduction of Xian He Cao: Hairvein Agrimonia Herb
✵The article records the herb Hairvein Agrimonia Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, botanical source—the dried aerial parts of a single plant species, Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the macroscopic and microscopic features of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Herba Agrimoniae (Hairvein Agrimonia Herb)
Pinyin Name: Xiān Hè Cǎo
English Name: Hairvein Agrimonia Herb
Latin Name:Herba Agrimoniae Properties and Flavors: Neutral in nature; bitter and astringent
Brief Introduction:Herba Agrimoniae consists of the dried aerial parts of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. It is used (1) as an astringent hemostatic agent for various hemorrhagic conditions—including bloody dysentery—and (2) to clear heat, resolve toxins, and reduce swelling in the treatment of boils, sores, and carbuncles. It is also employed in the management of malaria. Common names include Herba Agrimoniae, Hairvein Agrimonia Herb, Hairyvein Agrimonia Herb, and Xiān Hè Cǎo (literally “Crane Herb”).
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Herba Agrimoniae (Hairvein Agrimonia Herb) as the dried aerial parts of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., a perennial herb belonging to the genus Agrimonia, family Rosaceae (rose family), order Rosales. The species is described below:
(1) Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb.
Botanical Description: Commonly known as Lóng Yá Cǎo (“Dragon’s Sprout Grass”), this perennial herb reaches heights of 30–120 cm. Roots are often tuberous, bearing numerous lateral roots; the rhizome is short, with one or several underground buds at the base. Stems are 30–120 cm tall, sparsely pilose and pubescent; the lower portion is sparsely hirsute.
Imparipinnate compound leaves are alternate; stipules (perphyllia) are sickle-shaped—rarely oval—apically acute or acuminate, with sharply serrate or lobed margins (rarely entire). Leaflets occur interstitially along the rachis: larger leaflets appear in 3–4 pairs (rarely 2), reducing to 3 at the upper part; they are subsessile, obovate to obovate-lanceolate (1.5–5 cm long × 1–2.5 cm wide), with acute to obtuse (rarely acuminate) apices and cuneate bases. Margins bear sharp teeth or crenations. The upper surface is green and sparsely pubescent; the lower surface is pale green, with leaf veins covered by appressed (reptant) pubescence—rarely becoming glabrous—and conspicuous glandular dots.
One raceme—or two to three racemes—arise terminally on the stem. The inflorescence axis (floral axis) is pubescent; peduncles measure 1–5 mm and are pubescent. Floral bracts are usually deeply trilobed, with linear lobes; bracteoles (bractlets) are opposite, oval, and either entire or shallowly lobed. Flowers are 6–9 mm in diameter, with five triangular-ovate sepals (calyx lobes); five oblong, yellow petals; five to fifteen stamens; and two filiform styles with capitate stigmas.
Achenes are obovate-conical, bearing ten prominent ribs and sparse pilosity. Several layers of hooked spines crown the apex: erect when young, converging inward upon maturity. Total length including spines is 7–8 mm; maximum diameter is 3–4 mm. Flowering and fruiting occur from May to December.
Ecological Environment: This species grows in wastelands, hillsides, stream banks, roadsides, grasslands, shrublands, forest margins, and open forests.
Growth Characteristics:Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. exhibits strong climatic adaptability and cold tolerance. It thrives in ordinary soils; cultivation in fertile sandy loam increases yield. Growth is most vigorous during the warm, rainy months of July and August. The thousand-seed weight is 13.9 g.
Characteristics of the Herb: The whole plant is 50–100 cm long and covered with white tomentum. The lower stem is cylindrical (0.4–0.6 cm in diameter) and reddish brown; the upper stem is quadrangular, slightly concave on the four sides, olive-brown (greenish-brown) in color, pubescent with appressed hairs, bearing longitudinal grooves, ridges, and distinct nodes. The herb is lightweight and hard in texture, brittle and easily fractured, with a hollow cross-section. Imparipinnate compound leaves are alternate, dark green (sap-green), often shriveled and curled; leaflets occur interstitially along the rachis—two types (larger and smaller)—with the apical leaflets being larger. Upon unfolding, intact leaflets are oval or oblong-oval, tapering to an acute apex, cuneate at the base, and sharply serrated along the margins. Two amplexicaul (stem-clasping) stipules (perphyllia) are obliquely ovate. Racemes are slender and elongated. Flowers are 0.6–0.9 cm in diameter; the calyx is tubular at the base, and the hypanthium bears hooked spines apically, with a 5-lobed margin; petals are yellow. Achenes are 0.7–0.8 cm long and 0.3–0.4 cm in diameter. The herb has a faint odor and a slightly bitter taste.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Anticoagulant and antithrombotic effects; (2) Prolongation of bleeding time and plasma thromboplastin time (PTT); inhibition of ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma; (3) Antitumor activity; (4) Antiparasitic effects; (5) Antibacterial activity.
Medicinal efficacy: Hemostasis (via astringent action), prevention of malaria relapse or recurrence, arresting dysentery, strengthening the stomach (Spleen-Qi tonification), detoxification, and anthelmintic action. It is indicated for hemoptysis (coughing up blood), hematemesis (vomiting blood), hematuria (blood in urine), hematochezia (passage of blood in stool), dysentery with bloody stools, mixed red-and-white dysentery, malaria, fatigue and internal deficiency due to overexertion, uterine bleeding, leukorrhea with abnormal discharge, pruritus vulvae, carbuncles, swellings, toxic sores, and traumatic bleeding.
Administration of Herba Agrimoniae (Xiān Hè Cǎo):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Herba Agrimoniae (Xiān Hè Cǎo)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 6–12 gramsper dose; external use: appropriate amount, as a poultice or wash; (2) Internally: water decoction, 3–5 qian (approximately 9–15 grams); fresh herb: 0.5–1 liang (approximately 15–30 grams), or juice extraction, pills, or powdered herb; external use: crushed fresh herb applied topically; (3) Internally: water decoction, 10–15 grams (up to 30 grams in severe cases); or powdered herb. External use: crushed herb applied as a poultice or prepared as a paste for topical application.
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1.Introduction of Xian He Cao: Hairvein Agrimonia Herb
✵The article records the herb Hairvein Agrimonia Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, botanical source—the dried aerial parts of a single plant species, Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the macroscopic and microscopic features of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Xiān Hè Cǎo
Botanical Description: Commonly known as Lóng Yá Cǎo (“Dragon’s Sprout Grass”), this perennial herb reaches heights of 30–120 cm. Roots are often tuberous, bearing numerous lateral roots; the rhizome is short, with one or several underground buds at the base. Stems are 30–120 cm tall, sparsely pilose and pubescent; the lower portion is sparsely hirsute.
One raceme—or two to three racemes—arise terminally on the stem. The inflorescence axis (floral axis) is pubescent; peduncles measure 1–5 mm and are pubescent. Floral bracts are usually deeply trilobed, with linear lobes; bracteoles (bractlets) are opposite, oval, and either entire or shallowly lobed. Flowers are 6–9 mm in diameter, with five triangular-ovate sepals (calyx lobes); five oblong, yellow petals; five to fifteen stamens; and two filiform styles with capitate stigmas.
Ecological Environment: This species grows in wastelands, hillsides, stream banks, roadsides, grasslands, shrublands, forest margins, and open forests.
Characteristics of the Herb: The whole plant is 50–100 cm long and covered with white tomentum. The lower stem is cylindrical (0.4–0.6 cm in diameter) and reddish brown; the upper stem is quadrangular, slightly concave on the four sides, olive-brown (greenish-brown) in color, pubescent with appressed hairs, bearing longitudinal grooves, ridges, and distinct nodes. The herb is lightweight and hard in texture, brittle and easily fractured, with a hollow cross-section. Imparipinnate compound leaves are alternate, dark green (sap-green), often shriveled and curled; leaflets occur interstitially along the rachis—two types (larger and smaller)—with the apical leaflets being larger. Upon unfolding, intact leaflets are oval or oblong-oval, tapering to an acute apex, cuneate at the base, and sharply serrated along the margins. Two amplexicaul (stem-clasping) stipules (perphyllia) are obliquely ovate. Racemes are slender and elongated. Flowers are 0.6–0.9 cm in diameter; the calyx is tubular at the base, and the hypanthium bears hooked spines apically, with a 5-lobed margin; petals are yellow. Achenes are 0.7–0.8 cm long and 0.3–0.4 cm in diameter. The herb has a faint odor and a slightly bitter taste.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Anticoagulant and antithrombotic effects; (2) Prolongation of bleeding time and plasma thromboplastin time (PTT); inhibition of ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma; (3) Antitumor activity; (4) Antiparasitic effects; (5) Antibacterial activity.
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