There are many types of traditional Chinese medicine, such as our more common Chinese herbal medicines, and animal medicines. Each type of medicine has many small branches, such as botanical medicines, which are classified into roots, stems, and leaves, and Flowers and whole plants are also used. For example, Rhizoma chinensis is a kind of botanical medicine. So, what are the specific effects and functions of money grass?

The Chinese medicinal name is lianqiancao

Also known as Huoxuedan, Touguxiao, Jieguxiao and Horseshoe Grass.

The English name Glechomae Herba

It comes from the whole plant of the Lamiaceae plant Glechomalongituba (Nakai) Kupr.

The plant form is a creeping perennial herb with slender stems, square columnar, 10 to 30 cm long. The lower part often takes root prostrately, while the upper part rises obliquely or is nearly upright. Only the young parts are sparsely covered with long hairs. The leaves are opposite, with long stalks; the leaves are herbaceous, heart-shaped or nearly kidney-shaped, with crenulate edges and fine hairs. The flowers are blue or purple, with short stalks, usually solitary in the leaf axils, and rarely in clusters of 2 or 3; the calyx is tubular, with 15 longitudinal veins, villous, and the length of the calyx lobes is about the same as or shorter than the calyx tube. It has an awn-like tip; the corolla has two types: long tube and short tube, with some hairs on the outside. The lower part of the crown tube is cylindrical, and the upper part is obviously enlarged and bell-shaped. Long, obliquely spreading, 3-lobed, the middle lobe is extra large, the top is concave; stamens 8, hidden. The nutlets are oblong and ovate, dark brown, hidden in the persistent calyx. The flowering period is from April to May, and the fruiting period is from May to June.

Origin distribution: It grows in shady and humid places such as forest edges, under sparse forests, on grasslands or beside streams at an altitude of 50 to 2,000 meters. It is distributed throughout the country except Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang and Tibet.

Harvesting and processing Harvest in spring and autumn, wash and dry. Use raw or fresh.

The medicinal material is 10 to 20 cm long and sparsely pubescent. The stem is square-cylindrical, 1 to 2 mm in diameter, thin and twisted, with a yellow-green or purple surface. There are adventitious roots at the nodes. It is brittle and easy to break, and the cross-section is often hollow. The leaves are opposite, mostly wrinkled, kidney-shaped or nearly heart-shaped when flattened, 1-3 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide, gray-green or green-brown, with crenulate edges, and petioles 4-7 cm long. The inflorescences are axillary and the corolla is light blue or purple, bi-lipped, up to 2 cm long. The rubbing gas is fragrant and slightly bitter.

Meridian distribution of nature and flavor is slightly cold, and the taste is pungent and slightly bitter. Returns to liver meridian, kidney meridian and bladder meridian.

Effects and effects: It can relieve dampness and relieve stranguria, clear away heat and detoxify, dissipate blood stasis and reduce swelling. It is a diuretic and stranguria drug classified under the category of diuretic and dampness-removing drugs.

Clinical application dosage is 15 to 30 grams, fresh product is 30 to 60 grams; appropriate amount for external use, pound and apply. It is used to treat blood stasis, abdominal pain, bruises, edema, difficulty urinating, damp-heat jaundice, vaginal discharge, carbuncles, sores, poisonous snake bites, etc.

Pharmacological research: This product has diuretic, choleretic, anti-ulcer, and stone-dissolving effects; it also has antibacterial effects on Staphylococcus aureus and typhoid fever, Freund's dysentery, Soong's dysentery, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All have inhibitory effects.

Chemical composition Stems and leaves mainly contain volatile oil. The main ingredients are levopinalone, isopinalone, levomentholone, isomenthone, pulegone, α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, menthol, linalool, etc.

Contraindications include vaginal gangrene, anemia, and pregnant women.

Relevant prescriptions

① To facilitate urination and treat bladder stones: a. 15 grams each of moneywort, asparagus, and plantain, decoct in water and take. ("Zhejiang Folk Herbal Medicine"); b. 100 grams of moneywort and 100 grams of lotus root. Decoction in water. ("Jilin Chinese Herbal Medicine")

②Treatment of kidney and ureteral stones: 120 grams of Lianqiancao, boiled in water and mixed with honey, taken twice a day. ("Jilin Chinese Herbal Medicine")

③Treatment of nephritis and edema: 30 grams each of Lianqiancao and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 15 grams of shepherd's purse flower. Decoct and take. ("Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicine in Shanghai")

④Treatment of damp-heat jaundice: 60 grams of Lianqiancao and 75 grams of Mother-in-law's needle. Decoction in water. ("Zhejiang Medicinal Flora")

⑤Treatment of cholecystitis and cholelithiasis: 30 grams each of Lianqiancao and Dandelion, and 15 grams of Cyperus rotundus. Decoct and take 1 dose daily.

("Zhejiang Medicinal Flora")

⑥Treatment of bruises: 30 grams of Lianqiancao (fresh), 3 grams of Duhenggen (fresh), pound the juice and drink with water and wine; pound the medicinal residue Apply to the affected area. ("Jiangxi Herbal Medicine")

⑦Cure carbuncle: equal amounts of fresh moneywort and fresh purslane. Boiled in water, fumigated and washed. ("Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicine in Shanghai")

⑧Cure sores, boils and erysipelas: divide fresh money grass and fresh plantain into equal parts. Mash the juice, add the same amount of white wine, and rub the affected area. ("Jilin Chinese Herbal Medicine")

Functions and Indications

Replenishing qi and relieving pain, removing blood stasis and stopping bleeding, removing dampness and dispelling wind. Treats cough and vomiting blood, neurasthenia, rheumatism, back pain, amenorrhea and abdominal pain, scrofula, sores, swelling and dampness, bruises and tetanus.

"An Illustrated Study of Plant Names and Facts": "To treat all toothaches, decoct the soup, hold it in your mouth, and spit it out."

"Guizhou Herbal Medicine": "Regulate qi, relieve pain, stop bleeding and eliminate phlegm." "

"Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine": "Relaxes muscles and activates blood circulation, dispels wind and relieves pain, clears away heat and detoxifies, cures rheumatism, bruises, amenorrhea, lymph node tuberculosis, stranguria, sores, yellow water sores, and stomatitis. "

"Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicine in Tibet": "Strong and nourishing, dispelling wind and removing dampness. Treats irregular menstruation, rheumatism and low back pain, neurasthenia, and tetanus."