There is a folk story about Hua Tuo's treatment of jaundice. He left "wormwood in March and Artemisia in April", which will be remembered by future generations. In March, wormwood was used to treat jaundice, and in April, Artemisia annua was used as firewood. In other words, it is best to use newly grown seedlings. When they get older, the effect will be bad. Let me remind you that March and April here are lunar calendars, not customary solar calendars.
Sun Simiao, the king of medicine, once said: "If a husband is a doctor, he must predict the source of the disease, know what he has committed, treat it with food, and then take medicine." Regarding Artemisia capillaris, a plant that is both a vegetable and a medicine, Meng Chang in the Tang Dynasty recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica: "In early spring, soaking Artemisia capillaris leaves with vinegar is very beneficial to people."
Artemisia capillaris, alias Artemisia capillaris, Artemisia capillaris and so on. Chen refers to the old roots of previous years. Artemisia capillaris sprouts in Chen Gen every spring, and Zhang Xichun said that it "gets the smell of early spring with almost no sunshine". In the Ming Dynasty, Chen Jiamo wrote in Materia Medica: "Yinchen. Leaves fall all over the ground after autumn, and the stems do not wither. In spring, the old branches recurred, hence the name Artemisia capillaris. "
Ancient people's understanding of Artemisia capillaris
"Shennong Herbal Classic" records that "the taste is bitter and flat. Main wind, dampness, cold, heat evil and heat jaundice. For a long time, Chen Yin was listed as the top grade.
The famous doctor Aberdeen recorded that "Chen Yin was mainly yellow all over his body, which was unfavorable for urinating". The so-called whole body yellowing is our common jaundice in clinic, including acute and chronic icteric hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, liver failure and so on.
"Herbal Classic Shu" records that "rheumatism, cold and heat, pathogenic heat, jaundice, yellowing of the whole body, unfavorable urination and head fever are all caused by damp-heat of Yangming and Taiyin. Bitter cold can dispel damp-heat, and when damp-heat disappears, all symptoms will disappear. The main medicine for dehumidification and heat dissipation is also. "
Compendium of Materia Medica says: "Artemisia capillaris used to be a vegetable ... Today, Huaiyang people still eat wild Artemisia capillaris seedlings on February 2 nd, made of flour." The so-called "bamboo" is transplanted and planted. Regardless of ancient or modern times, wormwood is not only used as medicine, but also eaten as a wild vegetable.
Understanding of Herba Artemisiae Scopariae in China Medicine edited by Ling Yikui.
Bitter and slightly cold. Into the spleen, stomach, liver and gallbladder.
The effect of clearing away damp-heat and reducing jaundice.
Jaundice application Yinchen bitter drainage, specializing in clearing damp-heat and yellowing. Where damp heat is steaming yellow, the main medicine is used.
Herba Artemisiae Scopariae can also be used to treat wet sores, itching and yellow water flow, which is the function of clearing away damp heat. The decoction can be taken orally or washed externally.
Modern study on pharmacological action of Artemisia capillaris
1, protecting liver and gallbladder.
Artemisia capillaris extract has significant anti-hepatic fibrosis effects, including protecting the integrity and good permeability of hepatocyte membrane, preventing hepatocyte necrosis, promoting hepatocyte regeneration, improving liver microcirculation and enhancing liver detoxification function.
Herba Artemisiae Scopariae and its components play a choleretic role by enhancing gallbladder contraction, enhancing hepatocyte function, promoting bile secretion, and increasing bilirubin and bile acid excretion.
2, antibacterial and antiviral effects
Artemisia capillaris has a certain inhibitory effect on a variety of pathogenic microorganisms, especially Shigella dysenteriae, Staphylococcus aureus, diphtheria, pathogenic dermatophytes and so on.
Herba Artemisiae Scopariae and its components can inhibit or kill herpes simplex virus, poliovirus, influenza virus, hepatitis virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus and other viruses.
3, antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects
The antipyretic and analgesic effects of Herba Artemisiae Scopariae are related to opioid receptors and adenosine receptors.
Artemisia capillaris can inhibit degranulation of mast cells mediated by IgE, and its components play an anti-inflammatory role through various inflammatory pathways or directly inhibit pain pathways.
4. Lower blood pressure, regulate fat and metabolism.
Artemisia capillaris can stimulate the central nervous system, dilate blood vessels and increase coronary blood flow, thus lowering blood pressure.
Herba Artemisiae Scopariae can reduce the content of cholesterol in blood, thus reducing blood lipid and preventing atherosclerosis.
Chlorogenic acid in Artemisia capillaris can inhibit gluconeogenesis in liver and regulate glucose metabolism in vivo.
5. Antitumor effect
The main anti-tumor component of Herba Artemisiae Scopariae is chromone, and its mechanism of action is to directly kill tumor cells.
In addition, Herba Artemisiae Scopariae also has anti-osteoporosis effect, neuroprotective effect and certain anti-myocardial fibrosis effect.