Herba Siegesbeckiae

Naming

Xi Xian Cao (Herba Siegesbeckiae)——Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica)

The Processing of Herba Siegesbeckiae

Origin

The aerial parts of annual herbaceous plant Siegesbeckia orientalis L. , S. pubescens Makino or S. glabrescens Makino of family Compositae.

Location

Most areas of China.

Harvest

Collected before or during blossom in summer and autumn.

The actual smell and taste

Light smell and slightly bitter taste.

Best quality

Dryness, thick stems, leafiness, big and immature branches, flower bud without blossom and bright green in color.

Processing

Cut into segments, unprocessed or steamed with yellow rice wine for use.

The Effect of Herba Siegesbeckiae

Property

Pungent, bitter, cold; liver and kidney meridians entered.

Actions

Dispel wind-damp, unblock collaterals, clear heat and remove toxicity.

Indications

A. Arthralgia syndrome due to wind-damp

Being pungent and bitter with the actions of dispersing and dryness, it can dispel wind-damp, unblock collaterals and ease joint movement. The raw products with cold natures are suitable for arthralgia syndrome due to wind, dampness and heat, and often combined with wind-damp-dispelling and heat-clearing herbs, such as Qin Jiao and Fang Ji. Being warm in nature after prepared with wine, it has the actions of tonifying liver and kidney, and indicated for arthralgia syndrome due to wind and dampness which is manifested by weakness of the tendons and bones, soreness and weakness of waist and knees and numbness of four extremities; it is usually combined with chou Wu Tong. For windstroke manifested by numbness, wry eyes and mouth and hemiplegia, it is often combined with collaterals-unblocking, qi-replenishing and blood-nourishing herbs, for example, Qi She, Wei Ling
Xian, Huang Qi and Dang Gui, etc.

B. Eczema, sore and abscess

The raw products with bitter and cold natures can clear heat-toxin and dispel damp-heat. It can be used singly for oral administration or topical washing, and can also be combined with wind-dispelling, dampness-removing and itching-relieving herbs, such as Bai Ji Li, Di Fu Zi and Bai Xian Pi. For sore and abscess marked by red swelling and burning pain, t can be combined with heat-clearing and toxicity-removing herbs, for example, Pu Gong Ying and Ye Ju Hua, etc.

Dosage and Administrations

Decoct 10~12g. Proper dosage is for topical administration. For arthralgia syndrome due to wind, dampness and cold and hemiplegia, it should be used after preparation; for arthralgia syndrome due to wind, dampness and heat, eczema and sore and abscess, it should be used without preparation