Serissae Herba
Aliases：Bái Mǎ Gǔ (White Horse Bone); Mǎn Tiān Xīng (Star-Sprinkled Herb); Lù Biān Jiāng (Roadside Ginger); Tiān Xīng Mù (Star Wood); Lù Biān Jīng (Roadside Vitex); Jī Gǔ Chái (Chicken Bone Firewood); Lù Biān Jīn (Roadside Gold); Yě Qiān Nián Ǎi (Wild Millennia Dwarf); Bái Dīng Huā (White Ding Flower).
Liù Yuè Xuě (Junesnow) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the whole plant of Serissa japonica (Thunb.) Thunb., a plant of the Rubiaceae family. It is named “Junesnow” because it blooms in summer with pure white flowers, resembling snow.
Efficacy & Actions
Dispels wind, releases the exterior, clears heat, promotes diuresis, and relaxes sinews and unblocks collaterals.
Indications
Used for colds with fever, cough and sore throat, acute tonsillitis, laryngitis, toothache, keratitis, acute and chronic hepatitis, enteritis, dysentery, infantile malnutrition (childhood wasting disorder), migraine, hypertensive headache, rheumatic joint pain, leukorrhea, amenorrhea, nephritis edema, lumbago and leg pain, traumatic injuries, and carbuncles. Burning the stems to ash and applying to the eyes can treat corneal opacities.
Modern Pharmacology
Procoagulant effect: Exhibits blood coagulation-promoting activity. Antibacterial effect: Exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Hepatoprotective effect: Exhibits liver-protective effects. Anti-hepatitis virus effect: Exhibits inhibitory activity against hepatitis B virus. Antipyretic effect: Exhibits fever-reducing effects. Immunomodulatory effect: Enhances immune function. Antitumor effect: Shows tumor-inhibitory activity.
Ingredients
Anthraquinones: 3-hydroxy-1,2-dimethoxyanthraquinone, 1,2,4-trimethoxy-3-hydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone, emodin, etc. Lignans: Pinoresinol, medioresinol, etc. Terpenoids and Steroids: Lupeol, icariside F2, etc. Volatile Oils. Other Components: Gallic acid, methyl caffeate, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 9–30g. When used alone for resolving accumulation, the dosage may be increased to 60g. Fresh herb may be used at 30–60g. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, mashed for external application; decocted in water for washing; or burned to ash, mixed with liquid, and applied.
Contraindications
Contraindicated during pregnancy. Use with caution in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold: As this herb is cool in nature, it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort such as abdominal pain and diarrhea in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold. Not suitable for patients with exterior patterns due to wind-cold.
Selected Formulas
For cold and fever (National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 30g each of Liuyuexue (Serissa serissoides), Fengweicao (Pteris multifida), and Jinguicao (Ajuga decumbens). Decoct in water and drink. For influenza (National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 15g each of Liuyuexue, Qianliguang (Senecio scandens), Tuniuxi (Achyranthes aspera), and Baimaogen (Imperata cylindrica), plus 3g of Liulanxiang (Mentha spicata). Decoct in water, divide into 2 doses, and take daily. For acute jaundice hepatitis (National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 60g of Liuyuexue, 30g of Shanzhigen (Gardenia root), and 15g of Zijingniu (Ardisia japonica). Decoct in water and take daily. For dental inflammations (periodontitis, gingivitis, pericoronitis) (Fuzhou Folk Herbal Medicine) Take 15g of Liuyuexue whole plant, 15g of Pugongying (Dandelion), 15g of Zihuadiding (Viola yedoensis), and 9g of Weilingxian (Clematis chinensis). Decoct twice and take in the morning and evening. For postpartum edema (Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take equal parts of Liuyuexue and Fangji (Stephania tetrandra), grind into powder. Take 6g each time, twice daily, before meals with yellow wine. For hematuria (Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 60g of Liuyuexue, add a small amount of rice wine, decoct in water and drink. For venomous snake bite (folk formula) Take 90g each of fresh Liuyuexue and fresh Xiyexiangchacai (Rabdosia lophanthoides), and 30g of fresh Yuanbaocao (Hypericum sampsonii). Crush together, extract the juice, and mix with 1–2 bowls of cold boiled water. Drink.
Daily Consumption
Junesnow Decoction: Take 9–30g of Junesnow (Liù Yuè Xuě), decoct it in water, and drink the liquid. It may be used as an adjunctive treatment for colds with fever, sore throat, and other related conditions. Junesnow Stewed with Meat: Take an appropriate amount of Junesnow and stew it together with lean meat. Drink the soup and eat the meat.
Medicinal Parts
Dried whole plant (entire plant).
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry place.
