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TCM Treasures - Small centipeda herb
By Zhang Qian |
June 2, 2013, Sunday
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Print Edition
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SIMPLIFIED Chinese: 鹅不食草 Pinyin: é bù shí cǎo
Small centipeda herb is a common traditional Chinese medicine herb that helps relieve coughing and nasal problems. It also has an unusual Chinese name - e bu shi cao, literally "the grass that geese refuse to eat."
This name is said to originate from the story of a country boy with nasal problem rhinitis. He was constantly bothered by a stuffy and runny nose, and other children refused to play with him. The geese he tended were his only friends.
One day, after taking his flock to a new place to feed, the boy noticed that they fed on all the grasses except for one, even though it looked green and fresh. The boy picked some, smelled it and began sneezing. Afterwards, he was surprised to find that his nasal channels were clear.
Thereafter, he sniffed the grass every day, and found his runny nose also cleared up.
Small centipeda herb is a "warm" herb that travels through the lung and liver meridians, according to TCM.
It helps dispel pathogenic cold, wind and dampness. It can be prescribed for oral and external application.
Oral taking is often prescribed for relieving coughs and asthma. Research has found it very effective in relieving whooping cough. External application is more often used for treating soft tissue injuries and relieving rhinitis.
Prescriptions & Usage:
For rhinitis
Soak a strip of cotton in water and wring.
Put finely ground small centipeda powder in it and twist into a thin strip.
Put in one nasal channel and leave for 20-30 minutes. Repeat for other channel.
Repeat daily.
Benefits: Helps relieve rhinitis.
For whooping cough
Make herbal decoction with 10-20g small centipeda herb. Divide it into three portions.
Drink a portion three times a day.
Benefits: Helps relieve coughing.
For traumatic injury
Mash some small centipeda herb. Pan-fry it, and apply it on the injured area.
Benefits: Helps relieve pain and inflammation.
Small centipeda herb is a common traditional Chinese medicine herb that helps relieve coughing and nasal problems. It also has an unusual Chinese name - e bu shi cao, literally "the grass that geese refuse to eat."
This name is said to originate from the story of a country boy with nasal problem rhinitis. He was constantly bothered by a stuffy and runny nose, and other children refused to play with him. The geese he tended were his only friends.
One day, after taking his flock to a new place to feed, the boy noticed that they fed on all the grasses except for one, even though it looked green and fresh. The boy picked some, smelled it and began sneezing. Afterwards, he was surprised to find that his nasal channels were clear.
Thereafter, he sniffed the grass every day, and found his runny nose also cleared up.
Small centipeda herb is a "warm" herb that travels through the lung and liver meridians, according to TCM.
It helps dispel pathogenic cold, wind and dampness. It can be prescribed for oral and external application.
Oral taking is often prescribed for relieving coughs and asthma. Research has found it very effective in relieving whooping cough. External application is more often used for treating soft tissue injuries and relieving rhinitis.
Prescriptions & Usage:
For rhinitis
Soak a strip of cotton in water and wring.
Put finely ground small centipeda powder in it and twist into a thin strip.
Put in one nasal channel and leave for 20-30 minutes. Repeat for other channel.
Repeat daily.
Benefits: Helps relieve rhinitis.
For whooping cough
Make herbal decoction with 10-20g small centipeda herb. Divide it into three portions.
Drink a portion three times a day.
Benefits: Helps relieve coughing.
For traumatic injury
Mash some small centipeda herb. Pan-fry it, and apply it on the injured area.
Benefits: Helps relieve pain and inflammation.
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