Xian Feng Cao - 咸豐草 - Herba Bidentis

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Herba Bidens Bipinnata - Gui Zhen Cao - 鬼针草 Herba Bidentis
Common English:	Bidens Demon Needle Plant Ghost Spike Plant Sticktight

Category

Herbs That Drain Dampness (Diuretics)

Herbs that Clear Heat and Purge Fire: Herbs that Clear Heat and Detoxify; Target Warm and Heat Diseases

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sweet Bland Bitter	Neutral (Cold) (Warm)	Kidney Small Intestine Urinary Bladder Liver Spleen Large Intestine	6-30g Fresh: 15-30g

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Reduces inflammation, clears Heat, removes toxicity and promotes urination (clears Heat and Dampness from the Intestines)	Appendicitis, nephritis, dysentery, urinary tract infection, cystitis, diabetes, jaundice and hepatitis
Dissipates Blood Stasis, Drains pus, Generates flesh, Invigorates the Blood, Reduces swelling	Hemorrhoids and toxic swellings
Expels Wind-Heat	Influenza, sore throat
Disperses Stasis, eases pain and treats incised wounds	Incised wounds

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Rhubarb and Moutan Decoction Da Huang Mu Dan Pi Tang	Hb. Elephantopus Scaber Ding Shu Xiu Hb. Polygoni Avicularis Bian Xu Hb. Dianthi Qu Mai Hb. Pogonantheri Criniti Bi Zi Cao Hb. Ludwigiae Prostratae Shui Ding Xiang	Hb. Pteris Feng Wei Cao Hb. Centrellae Ji Xue Cao Rx. Puerariae Ge Gen Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian
Appendicitis.	Nephritis.	Dysentery.
Hb. Houttuyniae Yu Xing Cao Hb. Physalis Angulatae Pao Zai Cao Hb. Lippiae Ya She Huang Cx. Phellodendri Huang Bai Sm/ Plantaginis Che Qian Zi Rz. Imperatae Bai Mao Gen	Hb. Patriniae Bai Jiang Cao Rz. Polygoni Cuspidati Hu Zhang Hb. Oldenlandia Bai Hua She She Cao Hb. Solani Huang Shui Qie Rx. Isatidis Ban Lan Gen Hb. Orthosiphori Aristatis Hua Shi Cao	Stigma Maydis Yu Mi Xu
Urinary tract infection. Cystitis.	Hepatitis.	Diabetes.
Sp. Gleditsiae Zao Jiao Ci Or True Man Decoction to Revitalize Life Zhen Ren Huo Ming Yin Or Peony Decoction Shao Yao Tang Or Yi Wood Decoction Yi Zi Tang
Hemorrhoids.

Notes

• Taken as a summer beverage, this herb helps prevent Summerheat.
• On its own, it may be applied topically to toxic swellings.
• Its nature is described as sweet and bland with a neutral property, although other sources describe it as bitter. Listed uses include influenza, swollen and sore throat, enteritis, dysentery, jaundice, intestinal carbuncle, epilepsy in children, malnutrition in infants and hemorrhoids.
• Other sources report that it treats rheumatoid arthritis, sprain, insect and scorpion stings, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis, acute nephritis, stomach ache and sore throat.
• A decoction of the herb cures dysentery, laryngalgia, dysphagia, vomiting, cardiac spasm and esophageal dilatation, and it effectively removes toxic materials, stops diarrhea and clears away heat.
• Research indicates that this herb can suppress cancer cell growth.
• In recent years it has been used to treat cecitis.
• For esophageal cancer, decoct 15-30 grams a day and take orally.
• Applied externally with Fr. Arctii Niu Bang Zi and blended with pig fat, it can heal a cut finger.
• This herb is said to be bitter in taste, mild in nature and non-toxic, and to cure spider and fly bites mainly through Internal and External application.
• It is also reported that applying it externally can cure scorpion stings.