Saxifraga stolonifera Curt. ［Saxifraga sarmentosa L. f.］
Aliases：Shí Hé Yè (Stone Lotus Leaf); Jīn Xiàn Diào Fú Róng (Golden Thread Hanging Lotus); Jīn Sī Hé Yè (Golden Silk Lotus Leaf); Lǎo Hǔ Er (Old Tiger Ear); Er Lóng Cǎo (Deafness Herb); Làn Er Cǎo (Rotting Ear Herb); Er Duǒ Cǎo (Ear Herb); Dǎo Chuí Lián (Hanging Lotus); Xì Xì Yè (Intertwining Leaf); Sī Mián Diào Méi (Silk-Cotton Hanging Plum); Hóng Xiàn Cǎo (Red Thread Herb); Hóng Xiàn Shéng (Red Thread Rope); Shuǐ Er Duǒ (Water Ear); Shī Zi Er (Lion Ear).
Hǔ'ěr Cǎo (Saxifraga Herb) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the whole plant of Saxifraga stolonifera Curt., a plant of the Saxifragaceae family. It is a perennial evergreen small herb, with the entire plant covered in hairs. The leaves are basal, fleshy, rounded or kidney-shaped, green with white spots on the upper surface and purplish-red on the lower surface. It is named for its leaves resembling tiger ears.
Efficacy & Actions
Dispels wind, clears heat, cools blood, and detoxifies.
Indications
Used for wind-heat cough, lung abscess, hematemesis, purulent otitis media, wind-fire toothache, rubella with itching, carbuncles and erysipelas, hemorrhoidal swelling and pain, insect bites, burns, and traumatic bleeding.
Modern Pharmacology
Antibacterial: Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, etc. Cardiotonic: Fresh juice or ethanol extract shows cardiotonic effect on isolated frog heart, with slower onset but longer duration. Diuretic: Ethanol extract exhibits significant diuretic effect upon intravenous injection. Induction of apoptosis: Inhibits proliferation of fibroblasts and prostate cancer cells in vitro, inducing apoptosis. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor: Possesses antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor activities.
Ingredients
Flavonoids: Quercitrin, quercetin, quercetin 3-O-β-L-rhamnoside, quercetin 5-O-β-D-glucoside, bergenin, etc. Phenolic Acids: Gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, methyl protocatechuate, succinic acid, mesaconic acid, etc. Terpenoids: Betulinic acid, etc. Other Compounds: 5,7-dihydroxychromone, β-sitosterol, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 10–15g. Some sources also record 6–9g. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, juice extracted for ear drops; or decocted in water for fumigation and washing; or fresh herb mashed for external application.
Contraindications
Contraindicated (or use with caution) during pregnancy: Saxifraga Herb is slightly toxic and has dispersing, cooling, and blood-moving properties, which may be detrimental to fetal development during pregnancy. Use with caution in infants and young children: Due to its slight toxicity and the weaker tolerance of infants and young children, caution is advised. Contraindicated in patients with wind-cold colds: As the herb is cold in nature, it is not suitable for wind-cold colds. Use with caution in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold: Due to its cold nature, internal use should be approached cautiously. Use with caution in patients with weak constitution.
Selected Formulas
For otitis media (Zhejiang Folk Common Herbal Medicine) Take fresh leaves of Hu'ercao (Saxifraga stolonifera), crush to extract juice, and drop into the ear. For urticaria (Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica) Take Hu'ercao and Qingdai (indigo naturalis), decoct in water and drink. For wind-dan heat-toxin and wind-fire toothache (Nanjing Common Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 30g of fresh Hu'ercao (about one liang), decoct in water and drink. For urticarial itching and eczema (Shanghai Common Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 15–30g of fresh Hu'ercao, decoct in water and drink. For lung-heat cough with qi counterflow (Jiangxi Folk Herbal Medicine) Take 9–18g of Hu'ercao and 15g of rock sugar, decoct in water and drink. For lung abscess with foul purulent sputum (Jiangxi Folk Herbal Medicine) Take 12g of Hu'ercao and 30g of Rendongye (honeysuckle leaf), decoct in water and take in two divided doses. For hemorrhoids (Jiangxi Folk Herbal Medicine) Take 30g of Hu'ercao, decoct in water with a little salt, and use the liquid for sitting fumigation, twice daily. For metrorrhagia (Zhejiang Folk Common Herbal Medicine) Take 30–60g of fresh Hu'ercao, decoct with equal parts of yellow wine and water, and drink.
Daily Consumption
Saxifraga Tea: Take 3–6g of Saxifraga Herb (or an appropriate amount of fresh herb), crush it, and place it in a thermos. Pour in boiling water, cover, and let steep for 20 minutes. Add rock sugar and stir until dissolved. Drink warm as a tea, in multiple servings throughout the day. One dose daily.
Medicinal Parts
Whole plant.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry, airtight container in a well-ventilated, dry place.