Name of herb:Spica Prunellae
Alias:Columbine grass, iron-colored grass, big head flower, prunella
Family:Lamiaceae
Variety source: This product is the ear of fruit of Prunella vulgaris L., a perennial herb of the Lamiaceae. Growing all over China, mainly in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan and other places. Harvested in summer when the ears of fruit are half dead and dried
Growth environment: Born in wasteland, roadside and hillside grass.
Nature and flavor, meridian entry:
Bitter, pungent, and cold. Enter liver, gallbladder meridian
Efficacy and Indications:
To clear liver fire and dispel stagnation.
Used for red eyes, swelling and pain, headache and dizziness. This product is bitter and cold, has the function of clearing liver fire, reducing swelling and relieving pain, and clearing the liver fire, so that the blood and yin will rise, so it has the effect of nourishing the liver and improving eyesight. It is used for inflammation of liver fire, red eyes, swelling and pain, headache and dizziness. It is often used with Flos Chrysanthemi and Semen Cassiae. It is also used for liver-yin deficiency, eyeball pain, especially at night. It is often used with Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Fructus Lycii.
Used for scrofula galls. This product is pungent to dissipate lumps, bitter to release heat, mainly enters the liver meridian, and has a good effect of clearing the liver and coagulation. It is used for liver depression to transform fire, phlegm fire condenses, and set on the neck, which can cause scrofula galls and other diseases. The treatment of scrofula is often used together with Rhizome of Paniculate Bolbostemma, Radix Scrophulariae, and Concha Ostreae; for the treatment of galls, it is mostly compatible with Concha Meretricis Seu Cyclinae, Thallus Laminariae(thallus Eckloniae), and Sargassum.
In addition, this product has the effect of clearing liver fire, and this herb is often used in patients with high blood pressure due to liver heat and Yang hyperactivity. It has the effect of clearing the liver and lowering blood pressure.
Pay attention to taboos:
Use with caution for those with weak spleen and stomach.
“Depei Bencao”: Disabled for those with deficiency of Qi.
Dosage:
Decoction, 10-15g, or boil ointment.
Modern Pharmacology:
The whole plant contains triterpene saponins, caffeic acid, alkaloids and water-soluble salts.
Prunella has a hypotensive effect on its stems, leaves, flower spikes and the whole plant. Whether its hypotensive effect is related to the potassium salt and the expansion of blood vessels is disagreement.
The crystalline A of Spica Prunellae extract (a mixture of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid) and the total saponins with A as the main aglycon have antihypertensive activity and antiarrhythmic effects.
Spica Prunellae decoction has different degree of inhibitory effects on Shigella, Typhoid, Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus.
The decoction can excite the uterus and enhance bowel movements.
The decoction has inhibitory effect on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and sarcoma 180.
Processing: Harvest when the ears of fruit are brownish-red in summer, remove impurities, and dry.
Storage: Store in a dry place.
