Herba Mesonae Chinensis
Aliases：Xiān Cǎo (Fairy Herb); Xiān Rén Cǎo (Immortal Herb); Xiān Rén Dòng (Immortal Jelly); Xīn Cǎo (Firewood Herb); Xiān Líng Cǎo (Immortal Spirit Herb).
Liáng Fěn Cǎo (Chinese Mesona) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the dried above-ground part of Mesona chinensis Benth., a plant of the Lamiaceae family. It is a well-known medicinal and edible plant in the Lingnan region. It is named “Liáng Fěn Cǎo” (Grass Jelly Herb) because its branches and leaves, when decocted in water, can be used to make grass jelly (Xiān Cǎo jelly). Liáng Fěn Cǎo was first recorded in the Bencao Gangmu Shiyi (Supplements to the Compendium of Materia Medica), which describes it as having “beautiful stems and leaves, with a fragrance like sandalwood and agastache. In summer, its juice is extracted and made into a thick soup, which solidifies into ice”.
Efficacy & Actions
Relieves summer heat, clears heat, cools blood, and detoxifies.
Indications
Used for heatstroke, diabetes, jaundice, diarrhea, dysentery, hypertension, muscle and joint pain, acute nephritis, wind-fire toothache, burns and scalds, erysipelas, syphilis, and lacquer allergy. It may also be used for acute rheumatic arthritis, colds, and other conditions. According to the Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian (Dictionary of Chinese Materia Medica), it can treat heatstroke, diabetes, hypertension, acute nephritis, wind-fire toothache, muscle and joint pain, syphilis, erysipelas, jaundice, and other conditions.
Modern Pharmacology
Antioxidant Effect: The active components in Liang Fen Cao (Chinese Mesona) include polysaccharides, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and pigments, exhibiting antioxidant, anti-hypoxia, and various other biological activities. Hypoglycemic, Lipid-lowering, and Antihypertensive Effects: Liang Fen Cao exhibits hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, and antihypertensive effects. Anti-inflammatory, Antibacterial, and Antiviral Effects: Exhibits anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and various other biological activities. Anti-fatigue Effect: Animal studies have shown that the total flavonoids of Liang Fen Cao can prolong the exhaustive swimming time and pole-climbing time in mice, reduce serum lactate and blood urea nitrogen levels, and enhance the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in liver tissue. Immunomodulatory Effect: Liang Fen Cao polysaccharides can enhance and improve immune function. Anticancer Effect: The flavonoids in Liang Fen Cao have inhibitory effects on the growth of cancer cells.
Ingredients
Polysaccharides: Liang Fen Cao polysaccharide (MCPS, Mesona chinensis polysaccharide), with a relative molecular mass of approximately 43,000. Hydrolysis yields glucose, galactose, arabinose, xylose, rhamnose, and galacturonic acid, among others. Polysaccharides are one of the main active components of Liang Fen Cao. Flavonoids: Contains flavonoid compounds. Phenolic compounds, terpenoids, tannins. Amino acids, vitamins. Trace elements: Contains calcium, zinc, iron, manganese, potassium, and other trace elements.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 15–30g; large doses may be used up to 60g. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, ground into powder and mixed for application; decocted in water for washing; or fresh herb mashed for application.
Contraindications
Not suitable for patients with wind-cold colds. Use with caution in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold: As Liang Fen Cao (Chinese Mesona) is cold in nature, it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort such as abdominal pain and diarrhea in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold. Not suitable for individuals with qi deficiency, yang deficiency, or yin deficiency constitutions. Not suitable for patients with infectious diseases or skin diseases. Should not be consumed together with seafood, as it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort. It is not advisable to consume Liang Fen Cao products after drinking alcohol, as the alum added during the preparation of grass jelly may slow down gastrointestinal motility, causing alcohol to remain in the gastrointestinal tract for a longer period.
Selected Formulas
For summer heat (Jiangxi Herbal Medicine Manual) Take an appropriate amount of Liangfencao (Mesona chinensis), crush and boil in water until the liquid turns yellowish-brown. Strain, mix the juice with rice paste, heat until cooked, and cool to form a black gelatinous substance. Add sugar and drink as tea. For dysentery (Fujian Materia Medica) Take 30g each of Liangfencao and Baijiangcao (Patrinia). Decoct in water and drink. For erysipelas on the head and face (Jiangxi Herbal Medicine Manual) Take 250g of Liangfencao and 1500ml of water, add a copper utensil and boil into a concentrated decoction. When warm, wash the head and face for 10 minutes. After washing, use fresh decoction to soak gauze or cotton and apply to the affected area. Wash and apply 3 times daily. For burns and scalds (Jiangxi Herbal Medicine Manual) Take Liangfencao, Huangbai (Phellodendron), and Bingpian (Borneol). Grind together into powder, mix with tea oil, and apply. For venereal disease toxins invading the bones (Lingnan Caicai Lu) Take 6 liang of Xianrendong (Liangfencao), steam several times. Add 8 sparrows (with feathers), and soak in 4 jin of double-fermented wine for 20 days. Take 3 liang each time.
Daily Consumption
Grass Jelly (Xian Cao Jelly) : Decoct Liang Fen Cao (Chinese Mesona) in water, strain to remove the residue, and mix the liquid with rice milk. Cook until thickened, then cool until it solidifies into a black gelatinous form. Cut into small pieces and serve with sugar water, honey, or cane sugar. This is an excellent summer refreshment for relieving heat and thirst. Cold Liang Fen Cao Salad: Wash and cut Liang Fen Cao into sections, blanch in boiling water, remove and place in a bowl, then mix with salt, chili, soy sauce, and other seasonings. Stir-fried Liang Fen Cao: Can be stir-fried and consumed as a vegetable. Liang Fen Cao and Tofu Soup: Can be cooked in a soup together with tofu. Xian Cao Tea: Wash the whole plant, mash and boil in water, strain, and drink the liquid as a cooling beverage. Taiwanese Hot Grass Jelly (Shao Xian Cao) : A hot, thick liquid, best consumed in winter, often served with beans such as red beans, mung beans, and peanuts.
Medicinal Parts
Dried above-ground part.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry place.
