Introduction of Xian Mao: Common Curculigo Rhizome

 ✵The article records the herb Common Curculigo Rhizome, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—namely, the single plant species Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species; the characteristics of the herb Common Curculigo Rhizome; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.

Rhizoma Curculiginis (Common Curculigo Rhizome)

 Pinyin Name: Xiān Máo
 English Name: Common Curculigo Rhizome
 Latin Name: Rhizoma Curculiginis
 Properties and flavor: warm in nature, pungent in taste, and toxic.

 Brief Introduction: Rhizoma Curculiginis is the dried rhizome of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. It is used to warm the kidney, reinforce Yang, strengthen tendons and bones, and dispel cold-dampness for the treatment of soreness and pain in the lower back and knees with cold intolerance, impotence, enuresis, stubborn arthralgia, and chronic diarrhea. The herb is commonly known as Rhizoma Curculiginis, Common Curculigo Rhizome, or Xiān Máo.

 Botanical Source: Herbal classical works define Rhizoma Curculiginis (Xian Mao) as the rhizome (rhizomatous rootstock) of the Amaryllidaceae family plant Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. (1). It is a perennial herb belonging to the genus Curculigo, family Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis family), order Asparagales (formerly in order Liliflorae). This commonly used species is introduced below:

(1) Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.

 Botanical Description: Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. is a perennial herb of the Amaryllidaceae family (amaryllis family) and the genus Curculigo. It is also known as Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. var. minor Benth., and commonly referred to as Xian Mao, Di Zong, Du Mao, Shan Dang Shen, Xian Mao Shen, or Hainan Shen. The rhizome is nearly cylindrical and orthotropic, about 1 cm in diameter and up to 30 cm long; the outer bark is brown. Fibrous roots are often tufted, succulent, and marked with annular transverse veins; they reach up to 6 cm in length. Aerial shoots (terrestrial stems) are inconspicuous.

 Leaves are basal; leaf blades are linear (filiform), linear-lanceolate, or lanceolate, 10–45 cm long and 5–25 mm wide; the apex is long-acuminate, the base decurrent into a petiole, veins are distinct, and both surfaces are sparsely pubescent or glabrous.

 The scapes (flower stalks) are very short (6–7 cm long), mostly concealed within the base of the sheath-like petioles, and pilose. Bracts are lanceolate, 2.5–5 cm long, membranaceous, and bear marginal setae (trichomes).

 Racemes are more or less corymbose and usually bear 4–6 flowers. Flowers are yellow, ~1 cm in diameter. The hypanthium (floral tube) is linear in the lower part and 6-lobed in the upper part; lobes are lanceolate, 8–12 mm long and 2.5–3 mm wide; the abaxial surface of the outer whorl is sometimes sparsely pilose. There are 6 stamens, each ~½ the length of the tepal (perianth lobe); filaments measure 1.5–2.5 mm and anthers 2–4 mm. The stigma is 3-lobed; the lobed portion exceeds the style in length. The ovary is narrow and elongated, with a long rostrum (beak) at the apex; the total length of the ovary including the rostrum reaches up to 7.5 mm and is sparsely hairy.

 The berries are nearly fusiform (spindle-shaped), 1.2–1.5 cm long and ~6 mm wide, with a prominent rostrum (beak) at the apex. Seeds are coriaceous and jet-black; their surface exhibits vertical rugae and bears a rostrum (beak). Flowering and fruiting occur from April to September.

 Ecological Environment: The plant grows in forests, grasslands, or on barren slopes at altitudes below 1,600 m above sea level. It is mainly distributed in China.

 Growth characteristics: The plant prefers a warm climate and exhibits slight tolerance to drought and shade. Suitable cultivation sites include low mountain slopes or flat land with deep, loose, fertile sandy loam soil. Low-lying land is unsuitable for cultivation.

 Characteristics of the Herb: The rhizome is cylindrical and slightly curved, 3–10 cm long and 4–8 mm (or 0.4–1.2 cm) in diameter. The surface is dark brown (nearly black-brown) or tan (chocolate-brown), coarse and rough, bearing longitudinal grooves, transverse wrinkles, and punctate, thick root scars. The texture is hard and brittle, fracturing easily; the fracture surface is slightly flat and somewhat keratoid (horny), pale brown (hazel) to tan in color, darker near the center, and features a dark ring. The herb has a faint fragrance and tastes slightly bitter and pungent.

 Curculigo Gaertn. is a genus in the Hypoxidaceae family, comprising approximately 10–20 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. In China, seven species occur. Plants of this genus are perennial herbs with short rhizomes; leaves are basal and elongated, often folded; flower stalks vary in length; flowers are usually unisexual and arranged in dense capitate inflorescences or spikes, subtended by bracts; the perianth often extends into a linear tube surrounding the ovary and is 6-lobed; the ovary is inferior and 3-locular; fruits are non-dehiscent berries, often beaked. Globally, ~10–20 species are recognized; seven occur in China. The genus is native to tropical and subtropical Asia, South America, and Oceania, growing in forests or moist habitats. It prefers warm, humid environments, tolerates winter temperatures down to 10 °C (50 °F), and thrives best in humus-rich, loose, sandy loam. Some species are cultivated in pots for ornamental foliage and landscape use.

 In China, Curculigo species are classified into two sections: Sect. Molineria (Colla) Benth., comprising five species—(1) Curculigo breviscapa, (2) Curculigo capitulata, (3) Curculigo crassifolia (Baker) Hook.f., (4) Curculigo gracilis (Wall. ex Kurz) Hook.f., and (5) Curculigo sinensis; and Sect. Curculigo, comprising two species—(1) Curculigo glabrescens (Ridl.) Merr. and (2) Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.

 This unassuming herb resembles a seedling but possesses potent pharmacological properties: it tonifies kidney Yang—particularly beneficial for male kidney health. Modern studies demonstrate its androgen-like and adaptogenic effects, anti-aging activity, and immunomodulatory function.

 Pharmacological Actions:  (1) Anti-hypoxia and high-temperature resistance effects in mice; (2) Prolongation of pentobarbital sodium–induced sleep time in mice; (3) Delay of the convulsion onset latency induced by tetrazol in mice; (4) Inhibition of croton oil–induced auricular edema in mice.

 Medicinal Efficacy: Invigorating kidney Yang, strengthening bones and muscles, dispelling cold and dampness. It is indicated for asthenia (impotence), cold spermatozoa, enuresis (urinary incontinence), metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, cold pain in the heart and abdomen, epigastric cold pain, coldness and numbness in the waist and feet, cold and painful waist and knees, aching pain in the waist and knees, weakness and debility of tendons and bones, spasm of the lower limbs, Yang deficiency with cold diarrhea, ulcers, scrofula (lymph node tuberculosis), and menopausal syndrome, etc.

 Administration of Rhizoma Curculiginis (Xiān Máo): 
 

Reference:

Administration Guide for Rhizoma Curculiginis (Xiān Máo)

TCM Books:

(1) Internally: 3–10 grams; (2) Internally: water decoction, 1.5–3 qián (approximately 4.5–9 grams), or prepared as pills or powder; external use: crush fresh herb and apply as a poultice; (3) Internally: water decoction, 3–10 grams, or prepared as pills or powder; or wine infusion. External use: appropriate amount, crushed and applied as a poultice.  Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Rhizoma Curculiginis should not be processed or decocted using iron utensils.

 

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References:

• 1.Introduction of Xian Mao: Common Curculigo Rhizome

 Edited and last revised: January 5, 2023