Siegesbeckia is the aerial part of the plant Siegesbeckia orientalis L. from the Asteraceae family. Li Shizhen stated: "According to the rhyme book, people in Chu call pigs 'xi' and refer to the pungent and toxic smell of plants as 'xian'. This plant has a foul odor like a pig and a pungent, stinging taste, hence it is called 'xixian'." It is mainly produced in Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, and other regions. It can be harvested before flowering and during the flowering period in summer and autumn. It is used fresh after being chopped or processed by steaming with yellow wine.
I. Efficacy of Herba Siegesbeckiae:
Siegesbeckia Herb tastes bitter and is cold in nature. It belongs to the liver and kidney meridians. Its effects includeDispelling wind-dampness, unblocking meridians, clearing heat and detoxifyingThe "Compendium of Materia Medica" praises it as "an essential medicine for dispelling wind-dampness and promoting blood circulation." Additionally, it has the effect of lowering blood pressure.
Commonly used inRheumatic pain, weak muscles and bones, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, numbness of the limbs, hemiplegia, wind rash and damp soresTreatment of conditions such as
Summary of Famous Works by Renowned Authors
"Compendium of Materia Medica Illustrations": "Treats wind and qi in the liver and kidneys, numbness and paralysis of the limbs, pain between the bones, and weakness in the waist and knees. Also effective for rheumatic sores and stubborn numbness of the muscles."
Ben Cao Zheng Yi: For all types of bi syndromes caused by wind, cold, dampness, and heat, taking it in large doses often yields effective results. It is truly a fine product among humble and inexpensive medicines.
Jade Qiao's Explanation of Medicinal Properties: "It stops numbness, stretches spasms, unblocks joints, expels wind-dampness, and is effective for sores, ulcers, swellings, and abscesses whether taken orally or applied topically."
"Compendium of Materia Medica": "Raw, cold; cooked, warm. Treats wind and qi in the liver and kidney, numbness and paralysis of the limbs, cold pain in the sinews and bones, weakness of the waist and knees, and rheumatic sores and ulcers."
II. Application of Herba Siegesbeckiae in Compatibility
1. Used for rheumatic arthralgia, joint pain, numbness of limbs, weakness of feet, and hemiplegia after stroke. Xixiancao can dispel wind, unblock collaterals, and relieve pain. It can be used alone, processed with wine, steamed, sun-dried, and made into pills with honey. It is inexpensive and truly a good medicine. Or it can be used in combination with Chou Wutong, namelyXitong Wan。
Ben Cao Zheng: "Using honey wine to layer and sprinkle, steam nine times and dry nine times, it is good for treating stroke with facial paralysis, removing dampness and paralysis, and relieving soreness, weakness, and numbness in the waist and feet."
2. For carbuncles, sores, and eczema with itching. Xixiancao can clear and resolve sores and toxins, and dispel wind-dampness to treat damp sores. It is often used raw, and can be taken internally or applied externally.
If treating early stage furuncle, aversion to cold and fever, restlessness and irritability, even clouded spirit, often combine with wild chrysanthemum, cocklebur herb, barbed skullcap, violet, ephedra, paris polyphylla, namelySeven Star Sword DecoctionThis formula is commonly used in modern times to treat acute sores and ulcers, acute superficial infections, and other conditions, with significant therapeutic effects, making it worthy of reference.
Huang Yuanyu said, "Grind into powder, take with hot wine to treat furuncles and swelling toxins, sweating will lead to recovery."
3. For hypertension. Xixiancao also has the effect of lowering blood pressure. It is particularly suitable for treating numbness in the limbs and joint pain in the elderly, especially when accompanied by high blood pressure. It is often used in combination with Eucommia bark, which enhances its efficacy.
In addition, for persistent jaundice with lingering damp-heat epidemic toxins, Zhu Liangchun often treats from the blood aspect, using 30-40 grams of Siegesbeckia orientalis, combined with Salvia miltiorrhiza, Hypericum japonicum, and Salvia chinensis, which often yields good results and is worth learning.
III. Usage and Dosage of Siegesbeckiae Herba:
Siegesbeckiae Herba is often used in decoctions and is also suitable for making pills and powders. The usual dosage in decoctions ranges from a few grams to over ten grams; if it serves as the main ingredient in a formula, it can be used in amounts exceeding several tens of grams.
It is generally believed that the processed form should be used for treating rheumatic arthralgia, while the raw form should be used for treating abscesses and eczema.
Wang Ang said: "People in Jiangdong call pigs 'xi', and this herb resembles pig's stench, hence the name. It is best to harvest on the fifth day of the fifth month, the sixth day of the sixth month, the seventh day of the seventh month, and the ninth day of the ninth month. Remove the coarse stems, keep the branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits, mix with wine, steam and sun-dry nine times, then form into honey pills, which greatly benefits primordial qi."
IV. Application Notes for Siegesbeckia Herb:
Xiqiancao is bitter and cold in nature when used raw, soPeople with weak constitution and cold-dampness arthralgia should not use it raw。
"Compendium of Materia Medica": "Xixian, when pounded raw and its juice taken, induces vomiting, hence it is said to have minor toxicity; after prolonged steaming and sun-drying, it tonifies the body and dispels bi syndrome, hence it is said to be non-toxic. Raw, it is cold in nature; cooked, it is warm in nature. To say it is hot is incorrect."
Huang Yuanyu: "Stroke cannot be cured."
Wang Ang said, "If the pain is caused by deficiency of both the spleen and kidney, and insufficiency of yin blood, not due to wind-dampness, it should be avoided. Wind-dispelling medicines can dry the blood."
