Polygalae Japonicae Herba
Aliases：Chén Shā Cǎo (Cinnabar Grass); Jīn Suǒ Chǐ (Golden Key); Guā Zǐ Cǎo (Melon Seed Grass); Guà Mǐ Cǎo (Hanging Rice Grass); Jīn Niú Cǎo (Golden Ox Grass); Zhú Yè Dì Dīng (Bamboo Leaf Groundnail); Xiǎo Yuǎn Zhì (Small Polygala); Huáng Guā Rén Cǎo (Cucumber Seed Grass); Kǔ Yuǎn Zhì (Bitter Polygala); Shén Shā Cǎo (Divine Sand Grass); Dì Téng Cǎo (Ground Vine Grass); Chǎn Hòu Cǎo (Postpartum Herb); Jīng Fēng Cǎo (Convulsion Herb); Yú Dǎn Cǎo (Fish Gall Herb); Lán Huā Cǎo (Blue Flower Grass); Guā Mǐ Xì Xīn (Melon Seed Asarum); Jiē Gǔ Hóng (Bone-Connecting Red).
Guā Zǐ Jīn (Japonica Milkwort Herb) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the root and whole plant of Polygala japonica Houtt., a plant of the Polygalaceae family. The root is cylindrical, the stem has few branches, and the leaves are alternate, ovate or ovate-lanceolate in shape, resembling melon seeds, hence the name “Guā Zǐ Jīn” (Melon Seed Gold).
Efficacy & Actions
Resolves phlegm and stops cough; disperses stasis and stops bleeding; calms the heart and soothes the mind; detoxifies and reduces swelling.
Indications
Used for cough with excessive phlegm, sore throat, traumatic injuries, rheumatic arthralgia, hematemesis and bloody stool, palpitations and insomnia, carbuncles and sores, and venomous snake bites. It is also used for infantile malnutrition (childhood wasting disorder), osteomyelitis, osteoarticular tuberculosis, stomatitis, and urinary tract stones, among other conditions.
Modern Pharmacology
Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and neuroprotective effects: Exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and neuroprotective effects. Antitumor effect: Extracts of Guā Zǐ Jīn (Japonica Milkwort Herb) show inhibitory effects on various tumor cells in vitro. Sedative and hypnotic effects: The water decoction of Guā Zǐ Jīn significantly reduces spontaneous locomotor activity in mice and exhibits a synergistic sedative effect with barbiturates. Regulation of lipid metabolism: Shows preventive and therapeutic effects on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Improvement of cognitive function: Promotes adult hippocampal neurogenesis and alleviates cognitive impairment. Hemolytic effect: Infusions from the roots and above-ground parts of flowering plants exhibit certain hemolytic activity. Anti-infection preterm delivery effect: Exhibits pharmacological effects against infection-induced preterm delivery.
Ingredients
Triterpenoid Saponins: Polygalasaponin A, B, C, D and polygalasaponin I to XIX. Flavonoids: Kaempferol glucoside, astragalin, quercetin, rhamnetin-3-O-glucopyranoside. Xanthones: Xanthone compounds. Oligosaccharide Esters. Other Components: Polygalitol, tetraacetate, resin, fatty oil, β-sitosterol, β-daucosterol.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 15–30g; fresh herb 30–60g. May also be ground into powder, juice extracted, or steeped in wine. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, mashed for application, or ground into powder and mixed for external application.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold. Use with caution during pregnancy: It should be used under the guidance of a physician. Contraindicated for individuals allergic to this herb. Should not be taken together with tonic Chinese herbs. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, spicy foods, and fishy foods during the course of use. Animal studies have shown that large doses may cause toxic symptoms; dosage should be strictly controlled.
Selected Formulas
For cough with phlegm (Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine) Take 60g of Guazijin (Polygala japonica) root, decoct with an appropriate amount of water, and take in one dose. For malaria (Jiangxi Herbal Medicine) Take 18–30g of fresh Guazijin, decoct with wine, and take 2 hours before the expected malarial attack. For traumatic injuries, furuncles, and carbuncles (Zhejiang Folk Common Herbal Medicine) Take Guazijin, grind into powder. Take 6g each time, three times daily, with yellow wine. Additionally, take an appropriate amount of the powder, mix with yellow wine, and apply externally. For insomnia (Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 15g of Guazijin, decoct in water and drink. For sore throat and tonsillitis (Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 30g of fresh Guazijin, chop and crush, add 1 bowl of cold boiled water, extract the juice, and hold in the mouth frequently. For menstrual irregularities in women (Quanzhou Bencao) Take 7 plants of Guazijin, add 60g of white sugar, crush and extract the juice, and take 3 days after menstruation ends.
Daily Consumption
Decoction for oral use: Take 15–30g of Guā Zǐ Jīn (Japonica Milkwort Herb), decoct it in water, and drink the liquid. It may be used as an adjunctive treatment for cough with excessive phlegm and sore throat. Fresh herb juice: Take 30–60g of fresh Guā Zǐ Jīn, mash and squeeze to extract the juice, and take it orally. Used for sore throat. Wine infusion: Guā Zǐ Jīn can be steeped in wine and consumed in moderation. It may be used as an adjunctive treatment for traumatic injuries.
Medicinal Parts
Dried whole plant.
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place, protected from insects.
