Acalypha australis

Chinese Name: amaranth

[category]: whole grass

Copperleaf herb

[alias]: xuejianchou, haibeng rosary beads, Yeli Tibetan beads.

[source]: it is the aerial part of Acalypha australis L.

[harvesting]: harvest in summer and autumn, remove impurities and dry in the sun.

[plant morphology]: annual herb, 30-60cm high, pilose. Stem erect, much branched. Leaves alternate, elliptic lanceolate, 2.5-8 cm long, 1.5-3.5 cm wide, apex acuminate, base cuneate, both sides with sparse hair or glabrous, veins base 3; petiole long, inflorescence axillary, leaflike kidney shaped, bracts 1-3, undivided, pair like mussel; male inflorescence usually very short, inserted in the upper part of female inflorescence, male calyx 4-lobed, stamen 8; female inflorescence in bracts. Capsule obtuse triangular, light brown, hairy. The seeds are black. The flowering period is from May to July and the fruiting period is from July to November.

[growing place]: on hillsides, ditches, roadsides and fields. It is distributed almost all over the country, especially in the Yangtze River.

[chemical composition] it contains alkaloids, flavonoid glycosides and phenols.

[processing] remove impurities, spray water, moisten slightly, cut into sections and dry in the sun.

It is bitter, astringent and cool. Return to heart, lung and meridian.

Functions and indications: clearing away heat and toxin, removing dampness, astringency and hemostasis. For enteritis, dysentery, hematemesis, hematemesis, hematochezia, hematuria, metrorrhagia; external treatment of carbuncle, furuncle, sore, dermatitis and eczema.

[usage and dosage] 10-30g; appropriate amount of fresh product for external use, mash and apply to the affected area.

Store in a dry place.