Ajuga trifoliata

Ajuga trifoliata

(commonly used Chinese herbal medicine in Sichuan)

[source] it is the whole plant of tall stem pearl grass.

[plant morphology] tall pearl grass

Perennial herbs, 60-100 cm high. Rhizomes woody and creeping, covered with purple scales, culms scattered, triangular. Leaf linear, 30-40 cm long, 6-10 mm wide, slightly rough; leaf sheath papery, purple red near the base of culm, with 3 cleft teeth at the end of sheath, wingless, with 1-3 mm wide narrow wings at the middle of culm; ligule semicircular and short, covered with purple beard. Panicle is composed of terminal panicle and 1-3 lateral branches far from the tip; inflorescence axis and branches are sparsely pilose; bracteoles are bristly; spikelets are numerous, solitary, oblong ovate or lanceolate, purplish brown, unisexual; male spikelet scales are thick membranous, and the lower ones have long bone like protrusions with rust stripes; male flowers have 3 stamens; female spikelets often grow at the base of branches, with scales Pistil stigma 3-lobed, broadly ovate or ovate lanceolate. Nutlets globose or subovate, obtusely triangular, apex apiculate,

White or light brown, with reticulate surface of tetragonal to hexagonal, pubescence. The heading date is from June to August.

It grows in dry or wet places such as fields, roadsides and hillsides. Distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Yunnan and other places.

[collection] the whole grass was collected in summer and autumn and dried in the sun.

[flavor] slightly bitter, flat.

Functions and indications: remove rheumatism and dredge channels and collaterals. It can cure rheumatism, muscle and bone pain, paralysis and traumatic injury.

[usage and dosage] oral administration: decoction, 0.5-1 Liang; or soaking in wine.