Ixeris japonica (Burm.f.) Nakai［亦作 Ixeris debilis A.Gray］
Aliases：Jiǎ Pú Gōng Yīng (False Dandelion), Yā Shé Cǎo (Duck's Tongue Grass), É Pú Gōng Yīng (Goose Dandelion), Pú Gōng Yīng (Dandelion, used as a local name), Shā Tān Kǔ Mài Cài (Beach Bitter Lettuce).
Jiǎn Dāo Gǔ is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the whole plant of Ixeris debilis A.Gray, a plant belonging to the family Asteraceae. This plant is a perennial herb, 10–30 cm tall, glabrous throughout, with creeping stems. The basal leaves are arranged in a rosette, spoon-shaped oblanceolate to obovate, 5–25 cm long and 1–3 cm wide; the stem leaves are only 1–2 in number. There are 1–6 capitula, with yellow ligulate florets. The achenes are reddish-brown when mature, with white pappus. The flowering period is from April to May. Jiǎn Dāo Gǔ was first recorded in the Jiuhuang Bencao (Famine Relief Materia Medica). It is named for its leaf shape resembling scissors and its creeping growth habit, likened to a thigh (gǔ in Chinese).
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat, detoxifies, promotes diuresis, and reduces edema.
Indications
Indicated for lung abscess, sore throat, red eyes (acute conjunctivitis), mastitis, carbuncles and sores, edema, and difficult urination. It may also be used for lung-heat cough, throat pain, oral ulcers, appendicitis, and skin itching.
Modern Pharmacology
Antimicrobial effects: Exhibits inhibitory effects against both Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Myocardial protective effects: The total phenolic acids in Jiǎn Dāo Gǔ are relatively abundant. They can significantly reduce serum LDH and CK-MB activities, increase myocardial SOD activity, and decrease myocardial MDA content in isoproterenol-induced myocardial ischemia model mice, significantly reducing the area of myocardial necrosis. This indicates that the total phenolic acids of Jiǎn Dāo Gǔ have significant protective effects on the ischemic myocardium in mice. Antitumor effects: Extracts of Jiǎn Dāo Gǔ can counteract the carcinogenic effects induced by nicotine.
Ingredients
Phenolic acids: Gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid Flavonoids: Total flavonoid content is approximately 3.16% Lipids: Hexacosanol, palmitic acid Terpenoids: Ixerisosides A–N, taraxasterol, α-amyrin, β-amyrin, germanicol, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, lupeol, and others
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 10–15 g. For fresh herb, 30–45 g may be used. For external use: apply an appropriate amount, crushed and applied topically.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with Qi-blood deficiency. Contraindicated in patients with deficiency-cold constitution and weak Qi with depleted blood (from Guangxi Chinese Materia Medica).
Selected Formulas
For mumps (empirical formula) Take 15g of Jiandaogu (Ixeris japonica) root and 1 green-shell duck egg. Stew in water and consume. For lung abscess (empirical formula) Take 30g each of Jiandaogu and Hulucha (Desmodium triquetrum). Decoct in water, add honey or rock sugar, and drink. For carbuncle on the nape of the neck (empirical formula) Take 120g of fresh Jiandaogu, 90g of fresh Jingu Cao (Ajuga decumbens), and 20g of winter honey. Crush together and apply externally in two divided doses (morning and evening). For spermatorrhea (empirical formula) Take 15–30g of Jiandaogu, decoct in water, and use the liquid to stew with pig bladder or lean pork. Consume. For acute mastitis and furuncles (empirical formula) Take fresh Jiandaogu, crush and apply externally. For gonorrhea, edema, and acute conjunctivitis (empirical formula) Take 9–15g of Jiandaogu, decoct in water and drink.
Daily Consumption
Stewing: Take 15–30 g of Jiǎn Dāo Gǔ, decoct it in water, strain the liquid, and use the liquid to stew pork tripe or lean meat for consumption.
Medicinal Parts
Dried whole plant.
Selection & Storage
Store in a ventilated, dry place, protected from moisture.
