Pinyin: Yinchenhao
Aliases
Yinchen, Ronghao, Chouhao
Source
Asteraceae plant *Artemisia capillaris* Thunb.Artemisia capillarisThe dried aerial parts of *Artemisia capillaris* Thunb. Those harvested in spring are commonly called "Mianyinchen," while those harvested in summer are called "Huayinchen."
Botanical Description
A semi-shrubby perennial herb. Stems are often several clustered, obliquely ascending; in the first year, they are usually solitary, thicker at the base, and highly lignified. Leaves are dense; lower leaves are isomorphous with those of sterile branches, with long petioles; leaf blades are oblong, 1.5-5 cm long, 2-3 times pinnately dissected, often sericeous; middle leaves are 1-2 mm long, 2 times pinnately dissected, with clasping bases; upper leaves are sessile, 3-lobed or unlobed, with short lobes; sometimes, the central, hair-like small lobes are more slender, straight, and long, reaching up to 2.5 cm. Capitula are extremely numerous, pedunculate, arranged in compound racemes on lateral branches of the stem; involucre is ovoid or subglobose, 1-2 mm in diameter, with 3-5 rows of bracts, each row having 3 bracts, imbricate. Flowers are polygamous, all tubular; outer female flowers are 4-12, usually about 7, fertile; inner bisexual flowers are 3-9, with slightly enlarged apices, 5-lobed, ovary reduced, sterile. Achenes can reach up to 1 mm in length, oblong or obovoid, with longitudinal striations, glabrous. Flowering period is August to September, fruiting period is September to October.
Habitat and Distribution
It grows in moist sandy areas near rivers and coasts at low altitudes, along roadsides and on low hillsides. It is distributed in East China, Central South China, and Liaoning, Hebei, Shaanxi, Taiwan, and Sichuan.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvest in spring when seedlings are 6-10 cm tall or in autumn when flower buds form to early blooming stage, remove impurities and old stems, and dry in the sun.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains chlorogenic acid, eucalyptol, capillarisin, 4-methylcapillarisin, scoparone, and capillaric acid among other constituents.
Pharmacology
Has choleretic, hepatoprotective effects and significant blood pressure-lowering effects; possesses antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory actions; can be used for anti-pathogenic microorganisms and anti-tumor. Also has diuretic and anti-caries effects.
Properties and Channel Entry
Bitter, acrid, and slightly cold. Enters the Spleen, Stomach, Liver, and Gallbladder channels.
Functions and Indications
Clears and drains Damp-Heat, promotes bile flow to reduce jaundice. Used for jaundice with scanty urine, Damp-Warmth and Summer-Dampness, and damp sores with itching.
Dosage and Administration
Internal use: decoction, 10-15 g; or made into pills or powder. External use: appropriate amount, decocted for washing.
Precautions and Contraindications
It is generally not suitable for use in cases of deficiency jaundice and chlorosis caused by Spleen deficiency and Blood deficiency.
Prescriptions
1. For Yangming disease with only head sweating, no body sweating, difficult urination, stagnant Heat in the interior, and jaundice: Yinchenhao (Artemisia capillaris) 180 g, Zhizi (Gardenia jasminoides, crushed) 14 pieces, Dahuang (Rheum palmatum, peeled) 60 g. Boil with 1.2 L of water: first decoct Yinchenhao, reduce by 0.6 L, then add the other two ingredients, decoct to 0.3 L, strain, and divide into three doses. Urination should become smooth, with urine resembling soapberry juice. (Yinchenhao Tang, Shang Han Lun) 2. For jaundice with yellow discoloration over the entire body and urine like thick gardenia juice: Yinchenhao 120 g, Huangqin (Scutellaria baicalensis) 90 g, Zhishi (Citrus aurantium, roasted) 60 g, Dahuang 90 g. Grind the four ingredients, mix with honey to form pills the size of wutong seeds. Take 20 pills on an empty stomach with rice gruel, once daily, gradually increasing to 25 pills, stopping when mild diarrhea occurs. Avoid hot noodles, garlic, buckwheat, sticky foods, and stale or odorous items. (Yinchen Wan, Guangji Fang, quoted in Wai Tai) 3. For spontaneous diarrhea with grayish stool: Yinchenhao 9 g, Zhizi and Huanglian (Coptis chinensis) each 6 g. Decoct with two cups of water down to eight-tenths of a cup, strain, and take. (Yinchen Zhizi Huanglian Tang, Shang Han Huo Ren Zhi Zhang Tu) 4. For jaundice with deep, slow, and thin pulse, cold extremities, and spontaneous sweating above the waist: Yinchenhao 60 g, Fuzi (Aconitum carmichaelii) 1 piece, Ganjiang (Zingiber officinale, blast-fried) 45 g, Gancao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis, roasted) 30 g. Grind into coarse powder, divide into four packets, and decoct each in water for oral administration. (Yinchen Sini Tang, Yu Ji Wei Yi) 5. For sores and ulcers: Two handfuls of Yinchenhao, boil with 1.5 L of water down to 0.7 L. First wash the sore with soapberry decoction to break the skin, then wash with this decoction; if it cools, reheat it. Repeat 3-4 times, every other day, to avoid unbearable pain. (Cui Shi Fang, quoted in Wai Tai) 6. For wind-type urticaria with generalized itching leading to scratching sores: Yinchenhao 150 g (fresh), Kushen (Sophora flavescens) 150 g. Finely chop, boil with 1 L of water down to 0.2 L, warm to a comfortable temperature, dip a cotton cloth in the liquid, and apply to the affected area 5-7 times daily. (Sheng Hui Fang)
