Xiaotongcao

Xiaotongcao

(records of Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine)

[synonym] xiaotonghua, yupaotong.

[source] it is the stem pith of Stachys himalayana.

[plant morphology] Himalayan Jingjie flower, also known as Tongcao tree and tongtiao tree.

It is a small tree with vine like branches, 2-3.5m high. Leaves alternate, membranous, oblong or ovate lanceolate, 5-15 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, apex acuminate, base cuneate to rounded, margin serrate. Inflorescence pendulous; bracts 2, ovate triangular or sub triangular; sepals 4, long ovate, apex acuminate, light green or near yellow green; petals 4, elliptic ovate, yellow; stamens 8, anthers yellow, filaments slender; ovary ovoid, style protruding out of corolla, stigma lobed or capitate, berry globose, 5-8 mm in diameter, black brown, with reticulate pores. The flowering period is from March to April. The fruit period is from April to May.

Growing on hillsides or jungles. It is distributed in Shaanxi, Gansu, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangxi, Jiangxi and other places.

[collection] harvest in summer and autumn, cut the aboveground stems, take out the pith when fresh, straighten and dry them in the sun.

The dried pith is round, 80-120 cm long and 8-12 mm in diameter. The appearance is flat without texture, white without hollow. It's light and soft, and it feels greasy when soaked in water. The best color is white.

It is mainly produced in Sichuan.

In addition to the above varieties, the stems and pith of the same genera, such as jingjiehua (Shaanxi, Sichuan), jingjiehua (Yunnan), jingjiehua (obovate), jingjiehua (concave leaf), jingjiehua (Sichuan), jingjiehua (willow leaf), are also used as medicine.

[nature and taste] it is flat in nature, light in taste and non-toxic.

[meridian tropism] entering the lung and stomach meridians.

[function indications] diuresis and dampness. Treatment of fever, red and yellow urine or closed urine, hot and humid pruritus, gonorrhea and other diseases.

[usage and dosage] oral administration: decoction, 1-2 yuan.

[should avoid] pregnant women and those who urinate too much should not use it.