Euphorbiae Hirtae Herba
Aliases：Dà Fēi Yáng (Great Flying Goat), Dà Fēi Yáng (Great Flying Goat), Dà Rǔ Zhī Cǎo (Great Milk Juice Herb), Rǔ Zǐ Cǎo (Milk Seed Herb), Fēi Xiāng Cǎo (Flying Fragrance Herb), Shén Xiān Duì Zuò Cǎo (Immortal Pair-Seated Herb), Jié Jié Huā (Sectioned Flower), Dà Hào Rǔ Zǎi Cǎo (Large Milk Herb), Dà Rǔ Cǎo (Great Milk Herb), Mù Běn Nǎi Cǎo (Woody Milk Herb), Jīn Huā Cǎo (Golden Flower Herb), Qīng Tíng Cǎo (Dragonfly Herb), Bái Rǔ Cǎo (White Milk Herb), Guò Lù Wú Gōng (Roadside Centipede), Mǎ Yǐ Cǎo (Ant Herb), Tiān Pào Cǎo (Sky Blister Herb), Nǎi Zǐ Cǎo (Milk Seed Herb).
Fēi Yáng Cǎo is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the dried whole plant of Euphorbia hirta L., a plant belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. This plant is an annual herb, growing 10–40 cm tall, with white latex throughout and covered with coarse hairs. The stem is ascending or erect, hairy, light red to purple in color. The leaves are opposite, ovate to elliptical, with an oblique and asymmetrical base, serrated margins, and pubescence on both surfaces. The cyathia are numerous, arranged in dense axillary capitate inflorescences. The capsule is ovoid-trigonous, covered with short pubescence.
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat and detoxifies; resolves dampness and relieves itching; promotes lactation.
Indications
Indicated for lung abscess (pulmonary suppuration), breast abscess (mastitis), dysentery, diarrhea, heat strangury, hematuria, eczema, tinea pedis (athlete‘s foot), skin itching, furuncles and toxic swellings, aphthous ulcers, and postpartum hypogalactia (low milk production). It may also be used for bacillary dysentery, amebic dysentery, enteritis, intestinal trichomoniasis, dyspepsia, bronchitis, and pyelonephritis; for external use, it is indicated for eczema, dermatitis, and pruritus (skin itching).
Modern Pharmacology
Central nervous system effects: The aqueous extract exhibits centrally acting analgesic effects, significantly reducing writhing responses and prolonging pain threshold in the hot plate test. It also shows significant antipyretic effects in yeast-induced fever in rats. Antibacterial effects: The decoction shows inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Anti-inflammatory effects: The extract significantly reduces carrageenan-induced inflammatory responses in a dose-dependent manner. Uterine-stimulating effects: Ellagic acid found in the flowers has uterine-stimulating effects and may increase the incidence of abortion. Antidiarrheal effects: The whole plant decoction shows antidiarrheal effects in diarrhea models induced by castor oil and arachidonic acid. Antioxidant effects: Exhibits antioxidant activity. Other activities: Also exhibits anti-allergic, anti-asthmatic, antidiabetic, diuretic, antihypertensive, anxiolytic, antiviral, antimalarial, and insecticidal activities. Anti-amoebic effects: The fresh herb boiling water extract shows cytotoxic effects against Entamoeba histolytica.
Ingredients
Flavonoids: Quercetin, quercitrin, myricitrin, rhamnetin-3-rhamnoside, hispidulin Terpenoids: Friedelin, β-amyrin, taraxerol, taraxerone, jambulol Sterols: β-sitosterol, spinasterol, stigmasterol Phenolic acids: Gallic acid, ellagic acid Others: Hentriacontane, triacontanol, triacontan-1-ol The following compounds have been isolated from the aerial parts of Fēi Yáng Cǎo: diisobutyl phthalate, diethylhexyl phthalate, hispidulin, acetyl peroxide, quercetin, and gallic acid.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: Decoct in water, 6–9 g (dried product); for fresh herb, 30–60 g. Some sources also document 0.5–1 liang (approximately 15–30 g) for dried product. For external use: Apply an appropriate amount, crushed and applied topically to the affected area; or decoct in water for washing.
Contraindications
Pregnant women should use with caution. Use with caution in cases of Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold. Use with caution in patients with debility. Use with caution in children.
Selected Formulas
For lung abscess (Fujian Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take a handful of fresh Dayangfei (Euphorbia hirta) whole plant, crush, extract half a cup of juice, and take with boiled water. For acute mastitis (Fujian Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 60g of Dayangfei whole plant and 120g of tofu, stew and consume. Additionally, take a handful of fresh herb, add a little salt, crush, mix with hot water, and apply externally. For dysentery with red and white stools (empirical formula) Take 15–24g of Dayangfeicao, add white sugar for red dysentery or brown sugar for white dysentery, and steep in boiling water to drink. For difficult urination and hematuria (empirical formula) Take 30–60g of fresh Dayangfeicao, decoct in water and drink twice daily. For bacillary dysentery, acute enteritis, and dyspepsia (empirical formula) Take 60–300g of Yangfeicao, decoct in water, and take orally in 2–4 divided doses. For chronic bronchitis (empirical formula) Take 120g of fresh Yangfeicao and 9g of Jiegeng (Platycodon). Decoct twice, each time boiling for 2 hours, then filter. Combine the two filtrates and concentrate to 60ml, add an appropriate amount of white sugar. Take 20ml each time, three times daily. One course lasts 10 days, with a second course following. For eczema (empirical formula) Take 600g of Yangfeicao, 1200g of Heimianye (Breynia fruticosa), and 150g of Maoshexiang (Adenosma glutinosum). Add 45000ml of water, decoct to 15000ml. Depending on the eczema location, choose sitz bath, wet compress, or external application. For tinea pedis (athlete's foot) (empirical formula) Take 330g of Yangfeicao, 220g of Baihuadan (Plumbago zeylanica), and 110g each of Xiaoyangfei (Euphorbia thymifolia), Wujiu (Sapium sebiferum) leaves, Wusemei (Lantana camara), and Kangbangui (Polygonum perfoliatum). Decoct twice, filter, and concentrate to 1000ml. Apply to the affected area.
Daily Consumption
Dried whole plant (with roots).
Medicinal Parts
Store in a dry container in a ventilated, dry place. Excavate in summer and autumn, wash, dry in the sun, and then store.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry container in a ventilated, dry place. Excavate in summer and autumn, wash, dry in the sun, and then store.
