Phyllagathis caualeriei
Aliases：Bái Máo Hǔ Shé Zhān (literally "White‑Haired Tiger‑Tongue Felt" — referring to the white hairs and tongue‑like leaf shape), Lǎo Hǔ ěr (literally "Tiger Ear" — named for the leaf shape), Shí Yòng (literally "Stone Use" — a local name, meaning uncertain), Dà Hǔ ěr Cǎo (literally "Big Tiger‑Ear Grass" — a variant of "Tiger Ear" emphasizing its larger size), and Shān Bà Wáng (literally "Mountain Overlord" — a name suggesting its dominance in its habitat); Xióng Bā Zhǎng (literally "Bear Paw" — named for the large, paw‑like leaves), Xióng Bā ěr (literally "Bear Ear" — a variant name), Māo ěr Duo Cǎo (literally "Cat Ear Grass" — named for the leaf shape resembling cat ears), and Pū Dì Zhān (literally "Ground‑Covering Felt" — referring to its creeping, mat‑like growth habit); also known as Yè Xià Hóng (literally "Red Beneath the Leaves" — referring to the reddish color on the underside of the leaves), among others. These are all alternative names for 锦香草 (Jǐn Xiāng Cǎo)， i.e., the dried whole herb or root of Phyllagathis cavaleriei (H. Lév. & Vaniot) Guillaumin.
Jǐn Xiāng Cǎo is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is the dried whole herb or root of Phyllagathis cavaleriei (Lévl. et Van.) Guill., a plant belonging to the family Melastomataceae. It grows in damp places in valleys, on slopes under sparse or dense forests, or beside ditches at altitudes of 400–1,500 meters. It was first recorded in Zhonghua Bencao (Chinese Materia Medica).
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat, cools blood, and promotes diuresis.
Indications
Heat‑toxin bloody dysentery; damp‑heat leukorrhea; irregular menstruation; blood‑heat metrorrhagia; intestinal heat with hemorrhoidal bleeding; and scrotal swelling in children.
Modern Pharmacology
It is clinically used for bacillary dysentery, leukorrhea, irregular menstruation, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, hemorrhoids, and infantile scrotal edema, among other conditions.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 15–30 g; or steep in wine. For topical application: take an appropriate amount, mash it and apply externally; or decoct in water and wash the affected area.
Selected Formulas
For intestinal heat dysentery (empirical formula) Take 15-30g of Shiyong (Jinxiangcao, a local herb), simmer in water and drink. For postpartum disorders (empirical formula) Take 15-30g of Shiyong, soak in 250g of wine. Take 15g twice daily. For hemorrhoidal bleeding (empirical formula) Take 15g of Shiyong, simmer in water and drink, three times daily.
Medicinal Parts
Dried whole herb or root.
Selection & Storage
Store in a cool, dry place, protected from moisture and insects.
