Galii Aparinis Herba
Aliases：Jù Zǐ Cǎo (Saw Grass), Lā Lā Téng (Clinging Vine), Xiǎo Jù Téng (Little Saw Vine), Xiǎo Qiàn Cǎo (Little Madder), Xiǎo Fēi Yáng Téng (Little Flying Vine), Hóng Sī Xiàn (Red Thread), Xuè Jiàn Chóu (Blood-seeing Worry), Xì Qiàn Cǎo (Fine Madder), Xiǎo Shū Jīn (Little Sinew-relaxer), Xiǎo Xuè Téng (Little Blood Vine); Pá Lā Yāng (Crawling Weed), Guāng Guǒ Lā Lā Téng (Smooth-fruited Clinging Vine), Zhū Yāng Yāng (Pigweed).
Bā Xiān Cǎo is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the whole plant of Galium aparine L. or Galium asperifolium Wall., plants belonging to the family Rubiaceae. This plant is an annual sprawling or climbing herb with a green, quadrangular stem bearing retrorse prickles along the edges. The leaves are 4–8 in a whorl, linear-lanceolate in shape. The name “Bā Xiān Cǎo” (Eight Immortals Herb) reflects its extensive use in folk medicine and its remarkable efficacy in treating a wide range of ailments, much like the Eight Immortals displaying their diverse magical powers.
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat and detoxifies; promotes diuresis and treats strangury; reduces swelling and alleviates pain. In addition, it also has the effects of dispersing stasis, cooling the blood, and stopping bleeding.
Indications
Indicated for carbuncles and toxic swellings, mastitis, appendicitis, edema, common cold with fever, dysentery, urinary tract infections, strangury with turbid urine, hematuria, bleeding gums, and bleeding from knife wounds.
Modern Pharmacology
Antiviral effects: Shows strong inhibitory effects against the H5N1 avian influenza virus, with a clear dose-dependent relationship. It also exhibits inhibitory effects against various other viruses. Antibacterial effects: Inhibits a variety of common pathogenic bacteria. Antioxidant effects. Hepatoprotective effects. Immunomodulatory effects. Antitumor effects. Anti-inflammatory and antimutagenic effects. Hemostatic, diuretic, antiasthmatic, antitussive, and expectorant effects. Antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, and anti-atherosclerotic effects. Inhibitory effects against cervical cancer and skin cancer.
Ingredients
Organic acids: p-Hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, succinic acid. Nucleosides: Cytosine, cytidine, uracil, uridine, adenosine. Anthraquinones: 1,3-Dihydroxyanthraquinone, 2-methyl-1,3,6-trihydroxyanthraquinone-3-O-neohesperidoside. Flavonoids: Rutin, quercetin galactoside, luteolin. Alkaloids: Protopine, harmine, (±)-vasicinone. Iridoids: Monotropein, aucubin, asperuloside. Others: Scopoletin, tannins, hordenine, vitamin C, and others.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 6–15 g (usual dosage); or 6–15 g (2–5 qián). It may also be crushed and the juice extracted for oral administration. For external use: apply an appropriate amount, crushed and applied topically to the affected area; or crush and extract the juice for use as ear drops.
Contraindications
Use with caution or avoid in patients with Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold—as this herb is slightly cold in nature, it may impair Spleen Yang and aggravate symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. Contraindicated during pregnancy—as it is cold in nature, it may stimulate uterine contractions and increase the risk of miscarriage. Use with caution in breastfeeding women—its components may pass into breast milk and affect the infant. Use with caution in infants—as their digestive systems are not fully developed, the cold nature may damage the Spleen and Stomach. Use with caution in those with allergic predisposition—may trigger allergic reactions such as skin itching and redness. Use with caution during menstruation—as it has blood-activating and stasis-resolving effects, it may cause excessive bleeding. Excessive use may cause liver damage—as it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which may lead to liver damage in high doses.
Selected Formulas
For five types of strangury (Diannan Bencao) Take 9g of Baxiancao (Galium aparine), 6g of Huashi (Talc), 3g of Gancao (Licorice), and 6g of Shuangguocao (a local herb). Decoct in water, add a little water wine, and take. For amenorrhea in women (Hunan Materia Medica) Take 6g of Zhuyangyang (Galium aparine), decoct in water and drink. For traumatic injuries (Jiangxi Herbal Medicine Manual) Take 12g each of fresh Zhuyangyang root and Malan (Kalimeris) root, decoct with equal parts of water and wine and drink. Additionally, take equal amounts of fresh Zhuyangyang whole plant and Cu Jiang Cao (Oxalis), crush and apply externally. For common cold (empirical formula) Take 30g of fresh Zhuyangyang and 3 slices of ginger. Grind to extract juice, mix with boiling water, and drink. For early-stage furuncles (empirical formula) Take an appropriate amount of fresh Zhuyangyang, crush with sweet wine, and apply externally. Change twice daily. For acute appendicitis (empirical formula) Take 90g of fresh Zhuyangyang, decoct in water and drink. For breast cancer (empirical formula) Take 120g of fresh Zhuyangyang, crush to extract juice, mix with lard, and apply to ulcerated areas. It may also be decocted in water and taken orally. For bleeding gums (empirical formula) Take 60-90g of fresh Zhuyangyang, decoct in water and drink. For otitis media (empirical formula) Take fresh Zhuyangyang, crush to extract juice, and drop into the ear. For stomach pain (empirical formula, Baxian Meat Soup) Take 30g of Baxiancao root, 50-100g of lean pork, and 50ml of yellow wine. First decoct the Baxiancao root in water, strain, add the pork and yellow wine, and stew until done.
Daily Consumption
Decoction for oral administration: Take 6–15 g of Bā Xiān Cǎo, decoct in water, strain, and drink the liquid. Fresh juice: Take an appropriate amount of fresh Bā Xiān Cǎo, crush it, and extract the juice for oral consumption. Tea: Take an appropriate amount of the dried herb, steep in boiling water, and drink as a tea. External application: Crush fresh Bā Xiān Cǎo and apply topically to the affected area. Ear drops: Crush fresh Bā Xiān Cǎo, extract the juice, and instill into the ear for treating otitis media.
Medicinal Parts
Dried whole plant.
Selection & Storage
Store dried products in a dry container in a ventilated, dry place.
