Pinyin: Baimaogen
Aliases
Maogen, Simao, Maocaogen, Tiancaogen, Simaocaogen
Source
Poaceae plant *Imperata cylindrica*Imperata cylindricaBeauv.The dried rhizome of var. major (Nees) C.E. Hubb.
Botanical Description
Perennial herb, 20-100 cm tall. Rhizome white, creeping and horizontal, densely covered with scales. Culms cespitose, erect, cylindrical, glabrous (hairless), base surrounded by numerous old leaves and persistent leaf sheaths. Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate; basal leaves nearly as long as the plant; cauline leaves shorter, 3-8 mm wide, leaf sheaths brown, glabrous, or with cilia on the upper part, margins, and sheath mouth, with a short ligule. Panicle contracted into a spike, terminal, cylindrical, 5-20 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide; spikelets lanceolate or oblong, arranged in pairs on the rachis, one spikelet with a longer pedicel, the other with a shorter pedicel; flowers bisexual, each spikelet with 1 flower, base with white silky hairs; glumes equal or the first slightly shorter and narrower, with 3-4 veins, the second glume wider, with 4-6 veins; lemma membranous, glabrous, the first lemma ovate-oblong, palea shorter, the second lemma lanceolate, equal in length to palea; stamens 2, anthers yellow, about 3 mm long; pistil 1, with a longer style, stigma plumose. Caryopsis ellipsoid, dark brown, mature inflorescence covered with white long hairs. Flowering period May-June, fruiting period June-July.
Habitat and Distribution
Born on sunny dry grasslands along roadsides or on hillsides. Distributed in Northeast, North China, East China, Central South, Southwest, and Shaanxi, Gansu and other regions.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvested in spring and autumn, washed clean, sun-dried, with fibrous roots and membranous leaf sheaths removed, then tied into small bundles.
Medicinal Properties
Rootstock long cylindrical, sometimes branched, varying in length, diameter 2-4 mm. Surface yellowish-white or pale yellow, lustrous, with longitudinal wrinkles, distinct nodes, with remnants of grayish-brown scale leaves and fine roots at the nodes, internodes 1-3 cm long. Light in weight, tough texture, fibrous fracture surface, yellowish-white, mostly with radial fissures, sometimes with a small hole visible in the center. Odor: faint; Taste: slightly sweet.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains arundoin, cylindrin, fernenol, ferneneol, and simiarenol.
Pharmacology
It has diuretic, procoagulant, and immune-enhancing effects. Toxic.
Properties and Channel Entry
Sweet, cold. Enters the Lung, Stomach, and Bladder channels.
Functions and Indications
Cools Blood to stop bleeding, clears Heat and promotes urination
Dosage and Administration
Oral administration: decoct 10-30 g (fresh 30-60 g) or crush for juice. External application: apply appropriate amount of fresh crushed juice.
Precautions and Contraindications
Contraindicated in cases of Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold with frequent urination and absence of thirst.
Prescriptions
1. For persistent vomiting of blood: Bai Mao Gen (Imperatae Rhizoma) one handful, decoct in water and take orally. (Qian Jin Yi Fang) 2. For lung injury with blood-tinged sputum: Bai Mao Gen (Imperatae Rhizoma) alone, pound and sieve into powder, take one fang cun bi (approximately 1 g), three times daily. (Wai Tai Mi Yao, citing Shen Shi Fang) 3. For epistaxis due to blood heat: Bai Mao Gen (Imperatae Rhizoma) juice one he (approximately 100 mL), drink it. (Fu Ren Liang Fang) 4. For stomach fire ascending causing gum bleeding: fresh Bai Mao Gen (Imperatae Rhizoma) 60 g, raw Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) 60 g, Bai Tang (white sugar) 30 g. Decoct in water, mix with sugar, and take. (Henan Zhong Cao Yao Shou Ce) 5. For gastric bleeding: Bai Mao Gen (Imperatae Rhizoma) and raw He Ye (Nelumbinis Folium) 30 g each, Ce Bai Ye (Platycladi Cacumen) and Ou Jie (Nelumbinis Nodus) 9 g each, Hei Dou (black soybean) a small amount. Decoct in water and take orally. (Quan Guo Zhong Cao Yao Hui Bian)
