1. Alias
Grass Cassia, Cowtail Flower Seed, Dog Tail Bazi, Wild Chicken Crown Flower Seed.
2. Plant morphology
Annual herb, 60-80 cm tall, completely hairless. The stem is upright, green or reddish purple, usually branched. Leaves alternate, lanceolate or elliptical lanceolate, apex gradually pointed, base extending into petiole, entire margin. The spike shaped inflorescence is solitary at the top of the stem or at the end of a branch, cylindrical or conical in shape, with dense flowers that initially appear light red and later turn silver white. Each flower has 3 dry membranous bracts, 5 carpels, dry membranous, elongated lanceolate, 5 stamens, an oblong ovary, and a linear style. The fruit has a spherical cap, with several seeds, flattened and round in shape, hard in texture, and glossy black in color. The flowering period is from May to July, and the fruiting period is from July to September.
3. Origin distribution
Born on loose soil such as roadsides, mountain valleys, riverbanks, and sand dunes in the wilderness, it is also cultivated. Most parts of our country have wild or cultivated species.
4. Harvesting and processing
Harvesting from August to October, cutting off aboveground parts or flower spikes, drying them in the sun, rubbing out seeds, removing impurities, and drying them in the sun.
5. Characteristics of medicinal herbs
It is flat circular in shape, with a few being round kidney shaped. The center is slightly thicker than the edges, with a diameter of 1-1.5 millimeters and a thickness of about 0.5 millimeters. The surface is smooth, black or reddish black, shiny, with a slight bulge in the middle and a navel on the slightly concave side. The seed coat is thin and brittle, easily broken, and has a white inner surface. Odorless and tasteless.
6. Sexual Taste Returning to the Classics
Slightly cold in nature and bitter in taste. Gui Gan Jing
7. Effect and Function
Clear the liver, tomorrow, and fade away. A heat clearing and purging gunpowder classified under the category of heat clearing drugs.
8. Clinical application
Take 9-15 grams of decoction orally to treat liver heat, blurred eyes, eye opacities, blurred vision, and hepatitis induced dizziness.
9. Pharmacological research
Reduce intraocular pressure; Lowering blood pressure; Antibacterial; Shorten the re calcification time of rabbit plasma. The water extract of Qingguo has the effect of anti hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); Green fruits can stimulate salivary glands, increase saliva secretion, and thus aid digestion.
10. Chemical composition
Contains oil and fat from Celestia japonica seeds, as well as rich potassium nitrate and niacin.
11. Usage taboos
Liver deficiency and visual diseases should not be used alone, and patients with dilated pupils and glaucoma should avoid taking it.
12. Compatibility prescription
① Treatment for dizziness and pain accompanied by eye teasing and eyebrow pain: 9g of Celosia seed and 5 flat topped lotus pods. Boil it in water. (Jiangxi Herbal Handbook)
② Treatment of high blood pressure caused by excessive liver yang: 10 grams each of Celosia seed, Cassia seed, and Chrysanthemum morifolium, and 15 grams each of Prunella vulgaris and Cirsium Cirsium. Boil it in water. (Sichuan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1979)
③ Treating unclear vision: 6 grams of Celestia seed and 60 grams of Night Bright Sand. Steamed chicken liver or pig liver for consumption. (Sichuan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1960)
④ To treat the symptoms of sudden fire eye, red, astringent and painful eyes: 9 grams each of Celestia seed, Scutellaria baicalensis and Gentiana scabra, 12 grams of Chrysanthemum, and 15 grams of Rehmannia glutinosa. Boil it in water. (Qingdao Herbal Medicine Handbook)
⑤ Treatment for vaginal discharge and excessive menstruation: 18g of Celestia seed and 15g of Ringing Grass. Served with stewed pork lean meat. (Xichang Chinese Herbal Medicine)
⑥ To treat wind heat and teary eyes: 15g of Celestia seed, stewed with chicken liver.
⊙ The content of the article is for clinical reference only. Non TCM professionals are not allowed to test drugs.