Herba Salviae Substoloniferae
Aliases：Wū Shā Cǎo (Black-sunstroke Grass), Hú Guǎng Cǎo (Huguang Grass), Yán Ké Yào (Salt-cough Medicine), Xiǎo Tuì Huǒ Cǎo (Small Fire-reducing Grass), Màn Jīng Shǔ Wěi (Creeping-stem Sage).
Bái Cǎo (White Grass) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the rhizome of Pennisetum centrasiaticum Tzvel., a plant belonging to the family Gramineae. This plant is an annual or perennial herb, 10–40 cm tall, with clustered fibrous roots. The stems are creeping or ascending, often clustered at the base, quadrangular, and slightly pubescent. The leaves are opposite, simple or occasionally trifoliolate, elliptic, 1.3–2 cm long, with crenate margins. The verticillasters consist of 2–8 flowers, forming terminal and axillary false racemes; the corolla is pale red or pale purple. The nutlets are ovoid, pale brown. It flowers from March to May. The whole plant is harvested in summer and autumn, and dried in the sun or used fresh. It is named “Zǒu Jīng Dān Shēn” (Creeping-stem Salvia) because of its creeping stems and its resemblance to Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen).
Efficacy & Actions
Clears the Lung, resolves phlegm, tonifies the Kidney, regulates menstruation, and stops bleeding.
Indications
Indicated for lung-heat cough with profuse phlegm and wheezing, hematemesis (vomiting blood), consumptive cough, Kidney deficiency with lower back soreness, frequent urination, leukorrhea, and menorrhagia or continuous uterine bleeding.
Modern Pharmacology
Antitussive, antiasthmatic, and expectorant effects: The decoction exhibits a relaxing effect on histamine-induced contraction of isolated guinea pig trachea; intraperitoneal injection shows significant antitussive effects in the ammonia-induced cough model. Antibacterial effects. Anti-inflammatory effects. Antioxidant effects. Lipid-lowering effects. Hypoglycemic effects. Antitumor effects.
Ingredients
Zǒu Jīng Dān Shēn contains tanshinone, danshensu, and other components. In addition, it is also rich in saponins.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 15–30 g (0.5–1 liǎng); or stew with meat and take orally.
Contraindications
Pregnant women should use with caution—as this product has blood-activating and stasis-resolving effects.
Selected Formulas
For wind‑heat cough with profuse phlegm and wheezing (Sichuan Common Chinese Herbal Medicines) Take 15–30g of Zoujing Danshen (Salvia roborowskii), decoct in water and drink. For hematemesis (Sichuan Common Chinese Herbal Medicines) Take 15–30g of Zoujing Danshen, decoct in water and drink. For summer heat diseases and herpes (Guangxi Medicinal Plant Directory) Take an appropriate amount of Zoujing Danshen, decoct in water and drink or use externally.
Daily Consumption
Stewed with meat: Take an appropriate amount of Zǒu Jīng Dān Shēn, stew it together with meat, and consume.
Medicinal Parts
Dried whole plant.
Selection & Storage
Store in a ventilated, dry place, protected from moisture.
