Duiyuecao, also known as Huanghaitang or Yuanbaocao, is detailed as follows:
Basic Characteristics
Family: Hypericaceae, Genus: Hypericum, a perennial herb (there are also claims that Duiyuecao, or Oenothera, is referred to as Duiyuecao).
Form: Leaves are lanceolate, elongated lanceolate, ovate, or elliptical, with a wedge-shaped or heart-shaped base, clasping the stem, and sparsely covered with pale glandular dots underneath.
The inflorescence is nearly umbellate or narrowly conical, with the capsule being ovoid or triangular ovoid, appearing dark brown.
Flowering and Fruiting Period: Flowering occurs from June to July, and fruiting from August to September.
Growth Environment and Distribution
Growth Environment: It grows in forest understories, forest edges, among shrubs, in grasslands or meadows, and along streams and riverbanks.
Distribution: It is found throughout China except for Xinjiang and Qinghai.
Medicinal and Health Value
Cooling Blood and Stopping Bleeding: It has the effect of cooling blood and resolving stasis, clinically used for treating blood disorders.
Activating Blood and Regulating Menstruation: It requires differentiation; it can be used alone for menstrual irregularities caused by heat and stasis, while other types need to be combined with other herbs.
Clearing Heat and Detoxifying: It can be used to treat certain coughs, especially those caused by prolonged illness leading to significant depletion of yin fluids, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Externally, it has limited effects on menstrual irregularities.
Oenothera (also referred to as Duiyuecao in some regions) has multiple effects including regulating endocrine function, anti-inflammatory properties, skin care, and cardiovascular protection. However, pregnant women, children, and individuals with bleeding tendencies should use it cautiously.
Aesthetic Value
In summary, Duiyuecao is a plant with multiple values, but its effects and contraindications should be understood to ensure safe use.
In terms of compatibility, Duiyuecao can be combined with various medicinal materials to exert its unique medicinal effects, as follows:
Combination with Yimucao
Effects: Duiyuecao (Yuanbaocao) has a slightly pungent and bitter taste, is cool in nature, and enters the spleen and liver meridians; Yimucao is pungent, bitter, slightly cold, and enters the heart, liver, and bladder meridians. Together, they can clear heat, detoxify, promote menstruation, and cool blood to stop bleeding.
Clearing Heat and Detoxifying: Both belong to bitter and cold-natured herbs, which can clear heat and detoxify, alleviating conditions such as high fever in children, snake bites, and carbuncles.
Promoting Menstruation and Activating Meridians: Duiyuecao disperses and moves blood, which can promote menstruation and activate meridians; Yimucao is good at invigorating blood, regulating menstruation, and dispelling stasis. Together, they can alleviate blood stasis, dysmenorrhea, menstrual obstruction, postpartum lochia retention, and abdominal pain due to stasis.
Cooling Blood and Stopping Bleeding: Duiyuecao’s pungent taste can disperse and move blood, while its cool nature can cool blood and reduce swelling; Yimucao can invigorate blood and reduce swelling. Therefore, their combined use has a cooling blood and stopping bleeding effect, useful for alleviating bleeding from trauma and contusions.
Precautions: Due to individual differences in constitution and severity of conditions, dosages may vary, so it is essential to strictly follow medical advice to avoid improper use leading to increased menstrual flow, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other discomforts.
Combination with Other Medicinal Materials
For treating hemoptysis, epistaxis, and hematochezia: Take 30-60g of Xiaolianqiao (another name for Duiyuecao), decoct in water, or add 30g of Longyacao and 30g of Lichang, decoct in water.
For treating hematemesis, hemoptysis, epistaxis, and uterine bleeding: Take 12g each of Xiaolianqiao, Dihu, and Baimaogen, decoct in water.
For treating bleeding from trauma: Fresh leaves of Xiaolianqiao can be crushed and applied externally.
For treating rheumatic joint pain and neuralgia: Take 15g of Xiaolianqiao (soaked in wine for a moment), decoct in water.
For treating sprains and contusions: Take 12g of Xiaolianqiao whole herb, decoct in equal parts of wine and water.
Additionally, Duiyuecao can be combined with Liujiu, Jizhuashen, and wild yam root among other medicinal materials to treat various conditions.
However, please note that Duiyuecao is contraindicated for pregnant women, and during use, it should be avoided with cold, spicy, and drying foods to prevent affecting its efficacy.
The above content is for reference only; specific compatibility applications should be determined based on the condition and doctor’s advice, and should not be used blindly.