Spreading Hedyotis Herba
Aliases：Shé Shé Cǎo (Snake Tongue Herb); Yáng Xū Cǎo (Goat Beard Herb); Shé Zǒng Guǎn (Snake General Herb); Shé Shé Huáng (Snake Tongue Yellow); Hè Shé Cǎo (Crane Tongue Herb); Bái Huā Shí Zì Cǎo (White Flower Cross Herb); Jiān Dāo Cǎo (Sharp Knife Herb); Jiǎ Měng Cǎo (Fierce Grass Herb); Lóng Shé Cǎo (Dragon Tongue Herb); Shé Liè Cǎo (Snake Tongue Herb); Èr Yè Lǜ (Two-Leaf Bedstraw); Ǎi Jiǎo Bái Huā Shé Lì Cǎo (Short-stemmed White Flower Snake Herb); Mù Mù Shēng Zhū Cǎo (Eye-Born Pearl Herb); Jié Jié Jié Ruǐ Cǎo (Joint-by-Joint Bud Herb); Liáo Gē Lì (Myna Bird Benefit); Qiān Dǎ Chuí (Thousand-Striking Hammer); Xì Yè Liǔ Zǐ (Fine-Leaf Willow Herb); Shé Zhēn Cǎo (Snake Needle Herb); Shé Shān Cǎo (Snake Cut Herb); Ruǎn Zhī Shé Shé Cǎo (Soft-Branched Snake Tongue Herb); Xiǎo Bái Huā Zǎi (Little White Flower Herb); Bǎi Huā Zǎi (Hundred Flowers Herb); Jīn Shí Liú (Golden Pomegranate).
Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo (Spreading Hedyotis Herb) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the whole plant of Hedyotis diffusa Willd., a plant of the Rubiaceae family. “Bái Huā Shé” refers to the five-pace viper (also known as the hundred-pace snake), commonly known in folklore. In ancient times, people often used this herb to treat bites from the five-pace viper. Moreover, its leaves are long and narrow, resembling a forked snake’s tongue, which is how it came to be named “Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo.”
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat, detoxifies, promotes diuresis, and relieves strangury; resolves abscesses and disperses nodules.
Indications
Used for lung-heat cough and wheezing, sore throat, intestinal abscess with abdominal pain, carbuncles and sores, painful strangury, damp-heat jaundice, snake bites, and tumors. It is also used for tonsillitis, pneumonia, cholecystitis, appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, adnexitis, dysentery, enteritis, urinary tract infections, pyelonephritis, hepatitis, and other conditions.
Modern Pharmacology
Antitumor: Significantly inhibits various tumor cells via mechanisms involving proliferation inhibition, apoptosis induction, metastasis suppression, immune regulation, and angiogenesis inhibition. Iridoids, total flavonoids, and anthraquinones are the main active components. Anti-inflammatory: Significant anti-inflammatory activity against various inflammatory diseases. Antibacterial: Broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Antioxidant: Possesses antioxidant activity. Immunomodulatory: Enhances immune function. Others: Antiviral effect, enhances chemosensitivity.
Ingredients
Iridoids: Asperulosidic acid, deacetylasperulosidic acid, etc. Flavonoids: Flavonoid glycosides, etc. Anthraquinones. Triterpenoids: Ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, etc. Polysaccharides. Organic acids. Sterols. Trace elements.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 15–60g. Double the amount for fresh herb. May also be taken as juice extraction. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, fresh herb mashed and applied to the affected area.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold: As this herb is cold in nature, it may easily damage the yang qi of the spleen and stomach. Contraindicated in patients with yin deficiency. Contraindicated in patients with yin-type ulcers (gangrene/abscesses). Use with caution or contraindicated during pregnancy. Use with caution during menstruation: To avoid cold congealing the menstrual blood, which may cause abdominal pain or menstrual irregularities. Not suitable for long-term use: Prolonged use in large amounts may cause stomach discomfort, loss of appetite, or increase the metabolic burden on the liver. Use with caution in individuals with allergies.
Selected Formulas
For acute appendicitis (Guangdong Chinese Herbal Medicine Prescription Selection) Take 60–120g of Baihuasheshecao (Hedyotis diffusa), 30–60g of Yangtica (Emilia sonchifolia), and 9g of Liangmianzhen root (Zanthoxylum nitidum). Decoct in water and drink. For venomous snake bite (Fujian Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 30–60g of fresh Baihuasheshecao, crush and extract the juice, or decoct in water and drink. Apply the residue to the wound. For dysentery and urethritis (Fujian Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 30g of Baihuasheshecao. Decoct in water and drink. For gastric, esophageal, and colorectal cancers (Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica, 1979) Take 75g of Baihuasheshecao, 30g of Yiyiren (Coix seed), 10g of Huangyaozi (Dioscorea bulbifera), 3g of Wuyao (Lindera), 3g of Longkui (Solanum nigrum), and 6g of Wumei (Smoked plum). Decoct in water and drink. For sore throat and conjunctivitis (Fujian Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 30–60g of fresh Baihuasheshecao whole plant. Decoct in water and drink. For appendicitis (Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 30g of Baihuasheshecao, 18g each of Jinyinhua (Honeysuckle) and Baijiangcao (Patrinia), and 15g of Hongteng (Sargentodoxa). Decoct in water and drink. For infantile febrile convulsion with inability to sleep (Minnan Folk Herbal Medicine) Take fresh Sheshehuang (Baihuasheshecao), extract one tablespoon of juice and take. For sores with heat and pain (Minnan Folk Herbal Medicine) Take fresh Sheshehuang (Baihuasheshecao), wash, crush and apply to the affected area. Replace when dry.
Daily Consumption
Baihuasheshecao Honey Dew Action: Clears heat, resolves toxicity, promotes diuresis, and removes dampness. Indicated for acute and chronic hepatitis and cholecystitis with damp-heat pattern. Not suitable for those with spleen-stomach deficiency cold. Ingredients: 125g Baihuasheshecao (Hedyotis diffusa), 250g honey. Preparation: Wash Baihuasheshecao, decoct in water, strain to extract the juice. Place the liquid in a porcelain bowl, add honey and mix well. Cover and steam over water for 1-2 hours. Cool and store for use. Usage: Take 1-2 tablespoons each time, with boiled water, twice daily.
Medicinal Parts
Dried whole plant.
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place, protected from moisture.
