Siegesbeckia Orientalis
Other Names : Herba Siegesbeckiae, Xi Xian Cao
Siegesbeckia orientalis is an annual herb, up to 1 meter or more.
Special Precautions of Siegesbeckia Orientalis
Siegesbeckia herb is non-toxic and causes no apparent discomfort if it is taken orally in the conventional dose of decoction. But overdose may lead to adverse reactions like nausea and loose stool. Li Shizhen pointed out that the alleged small toxicity was referred to as the gastrointestinal discomfort caused by overdose. So, when it is used in high doses, other stomach-harmonizing herbs should be added in in order to reduce stomach discomfort. TCM wise, it shouldn’t be taken by patients who are diagnosed with deficiency of blood and Yin.
Health Benefits and uses of Siegesbeckia Orientalis are
The Chinese Pharmacopoeia says that it is acrid and bitter in flavor and cold in nature. It goes to meridians of liver and kidney. Basic functions are expelling wind-damp, lubricating joint, and detoxifying. Primary siegesbeckia uses and indications include rheumatism, weak bones and tendons, weakness and pain in the low back and knees, quadriplegia, paraplegia, rubella, and eczema. Clinically siegesbeckia plant and Chou Wu Tong (Folium Clerodendri Trichotomi) are capable of treating rheumatism, rubella, eczema, urticaria, and pruritus. As a result, they are commonly used in pair to treat many ailments. However, they have their own advantage respectively. Siegesbeckia is still good at treating physical challenges like paralysis that commonly occur after stroke since it can get rid of wind-damp between the bones and muscles; Folium Clerodendri Trichotomi also treats dizziness and headache since it tranquilizes liver Yang.
- rheumatalgia
- improves immunity
- lowers blood pressure
- anti-inflammatory and analgesic;
- antihypertensive;
- inhibits cellular immunity, humoral immunity and nonspecific immunity;
- enhance T cell proliferation, promote the activity of IL-2, inhibit IL-1 activity, and improve local pathological reactions by adjusting the body’s immune function to slow down the progression of rheumatoid arthritis;
- dilate blood vessels;
- significantly inhibits thrombosis;
- strong inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus;
- has a certain inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sonnei, Salmonella typhi, staphylococcus albus, Neisseria catarrhalis, Salmonella Enteritidis, plasmodium yoelii, and the like;
- has moderate inhibition on herpes simplex virus;
- can excite the uterus and has obvious anti-pregnancy effect.
