Stellariae Radix
Aliases：Yín Hú, Yín Xià Chái Hú, Shān Cài Gēn, Shān Mǎ Tà Cài Gēn, Niú Dù Gēn, Shā Shēn Er, Bái Gēn Zǐ, Tǔ Shēn.
Yín Chái Hú is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is a medicinal material for clearing deficiency heat, derived from the dried root of Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata Bge., a plant belonging to the genus Stellaria of the family Caryophyllaceae. This plant is a perennial herb, 20–40 cm tall, with a cylindrical taproot. The name Yín Chái Hú first appeared in the Ming Dynasty Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu).
Efficacy & Actions
Clears deficiency heat and eliminates pediatric malnutrition fever.
Indications
Indicated for Yin deficiency fever, bone-steaming tidal fever, and pediatric malnutrition fever (疳热). It is suitable for consumptive bone-steaming, Yin deficiency with chronic malaria, and pediatric malnutrition with emaciation and fever. Bencao Congxin (New Compilation of Materia Medica) records that it "treats consumptive fever with muscular heat and bone-steaming, malarial fever with heat emanating from the marrow, and the five types of pediatric malnutrition with fever and emaciation". Bencao Zhengyi (Correct Meanings of Materia Medica) states that it "reduces fever without bitter purging, regulates Yin without ascending, making it an excellent remedy for deficiency heat".
Modern Pharmacology
Antipyretic effects: Both water and alcohol extracts of Yín Chái Hú have been demonstrated to possess antipyretic effects. Network pharmacology studies suggest that its antipyretic mechanism may be related to anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, metabolic regulation, and immune modulation processes. Anti-inflammatory effects: Yín Chái Hú exhibits significant anti-inflammatory activity. Various chemical components isolated from Yín Chái Hú have shown anti-inflammatory activity. Anti-allergic effects: Modern pharmacology has confirmed that Yín Chái Hú possesses anti-allergic activity. Anti-atherosclerotic effects: Yín Chái Hú exhibits anti-atherosclerotic effects. Other effects: It also exhibits anticancer, vasorelaxant, metabolic disorder-ameliorating, neuroprotective, and antioxidant activities.
Ingredients
Sterols: α-Spinasterol, stigmast-7-enol, α-spinasterol glucoside, stigmast-7-enol glucoside, stigmasterol, stigmast-7-enyl palmitate, α-spinasteryl palmitate, and others Flavonoids: Ergost-7-enol glucoside, wogonin, apigenin-6,8-di-C-galactopyranoside, isoscutellarein-6-C-galactopyranoside, and others Cyclic peptides, and others
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 3–10 g; or 5–9 g; or 3–12 g. May also be made into pills or powders.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with externally-contracted wind-cold—as Yín Chái Hú is cold in nature and not suitable for exterior wind-cold patterns. Contraindicated in patients with blood deficiency without heat—should not be used in the absence of deficiency heat. Long-term, high-dose use may damage the Spleen and Stomach; patients with chronic enteritis, chronic diarrhea, and other digestive system disorders should avoid long-term, high-dose use.
Selected Formulas
1. For hectic fever due to yin-deficiency endogenous heat (from Qinggu Powder recorded in Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng) Take 5 g of Yin Chai Hu (silver starwort root), 3 g each of Hu Huang Lian (picrorhiza rhizome), Qin Jiao (large-leaf gentian root), vinegar-processed Bie Jia (turtle shell), Di Gu Pi (wolfberry root-bark), Qing Hao (sweet wormwood), and Zhi Mu (anemarrhena rhizome), plus 2 g of Gan Cao (licorice root). Add about 400 ml of water (two cups), decoct until the volume reduces to approximately 160 ml (four-fifths of the original). Take warm on an empty stomach before meals. 2. For residual heat with dry, scaly skin in the late stage of warm-febrile diseases (from Yinjia Powder recorded in Wen Zheng Zhi Gui) Take 6 g of Yin Chai Hu and 9 g of Bie Jia. Decoct in water and take the strained liquid warm. 3. A simplified oral decoction for hectic bone-steaming fever (source unspecified; commonly used in folk practice) Take 5 g of Yin Chai Hu, 3 g each of Hu Huang Lian, Qin Jiao, vinegar-processed Bie Jia, Di Gu Pi, Qing Hao, and Zhi Mu, plus 2 g of Gan Cao. Decoct with water and take the warm strained liquid.
Daily Consumption
Yín Chái Hú Congee: It has the effects of clearing heat, removing dampness, resolving stasis, and relieving pain. It is suitable for dysmenorrhea due to damp-heat affecting the lower burner with stasis and Qi obstruction, characterized by premenstrual lower abdominal pain, dark red and thick menstrual blood with clots, and yellowish, thick leukorrhea. Decoction for oral administration: Take 3–10 g of Yín Chái Hú, decoct in water, and drink.
Medicinal Parts
Dried root.
Selection & Storage
Store in a ventilated, dry place, protected from insects.
