Pinyin: Bianxu
Aliases
Bianzhu, Fenjiecao, Baijie, Yetiesaoba
Source
Polygonaceae plant *Polygonum aviculare*Polygonum aviculareL. of the dried aerial parts.
Botanical Description
Annual or perennial herb, 10-50 cm tall. Plant body with white powdery coating. Stems prostrate or ascending, branching at base, green, distinctly grooved, glabrous, base cylindrical, young branches angular. Leaves alternate, nearly sessile; stipules sheathing, membranous; leaf blades narrowly oblong to lanceolate, 1-5 cm long, 0.5-1 cm wide, apex obtuse or acute, base cuneate, both surfaces glabrous. Lateral veins conspicuous. Flowers small, usually 1-5 clustered in leaf axils; pedicels short, with joint at apex; perianth green, 5-lobed, lobes elliptic, margins white or pale red, becoming imbricate and enclosing fruit after flowering; stamens 8, filaments short. Achenes triangular-ovoid, brown-black to black, with indistinct fine striations and dots, dull. Flowering April to August, fruiting June to September.
Habitat and Distribution
Born on hillsides, fields, roadsides, and similar places. Distributed throughout the country.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvest in summer when the leaves are lush, remove roots and impurities, and dry in the sun.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains myricitrin, avicularin, vitexin, quercetin, luteolin, isovitexin, hyperoside, luteolin, scopoletin, sinapic acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid, and chlorogenic acid among other components.
Pharmacology
Has diuretic, antihypertensive, and antibacterial effects; increases the amplitude of respiratory movements and pulmonary ventilation. Has mild astringent action. Accelerates blood coagulation and enhances uterine tone. Inhibits human platelet aggregation; has cholagogic effects in rats and dogs.
Properties and Channel Entry
Bitter, slightly cold. Enters the Bladder channel.
Functions and Indications
Diuresis, promotes urination, unblocks painful urinary dribbling, kills parasites, and relieves itching. Used for painful urinary dribbling due to Heat Lin (stranguria), short and reddish urination, abdominal pain due to parasitic accumulation, skin eczema, vulvar itching, and leukorrhea.
Dosage and Administration
Internal use: decoction, 10-15 g; or as pills or powder; for parasiticide use alone 30-60 g, fresh product juice 50-100 g. External use: appropriate amount, decoct for washing, mash for application, or juice for rubbing.
Precautions and Contraindications
Patients with weak spleen and stomach or Yin deficiency should use with caution.
Prescriptions
1. For urethritis and cystitis: fresh *Polygonum aviculare* 60 g, fresh *Plantago asiatica* 30 g. Pound into pulp and extract juice. Take in 2 divided doses. (Fujian Materia Medica) 2. For urinary tract stones: *Polygonum aviculare* and *Lysimachia christinae* (money grass) 15 g each, decoct in water for oral administration; or *Polygonum aviculare*, *Lygodium japonicum* vine, and *Plantago asiatica* 30 g each, decoct in water for oral administration. (Zhejiang Medicinal Flora) 3. For chyluria: fresh *Polygonum aviculare* 30-60 g, add 1-2 eggs and appropriate amount of fresh ginger. Decoct in water, eat the eggs and drink the decoction. (Zhejiang Medicinal Flora) 4. For urinary retention: one handful of *Polygonum aviculare*, decoct in 1 cup of water to 1 cup, take hot. (Weisheng Yijian Fang) 5. For jaundice: fresh *Polygonum aviculare* 30-60 g, *Corbicula fluminea* 250 g. Decoct in water and drink as tea. (Fujian Materia Medica) 6. For leukorrhea: fresh *Polygonum aviculare* 90 g, slender-leaved *Artemisia argyi* root 45 g, *Oryza sativa* (polished rice) 90 g, white sugar 30 g. First cook the rice to obtain rice water, then add all herbs, decoct, strain, add white sugar. Take on an empty stomach, 1 dose daily. (New Compilation of Zhejiang Southern Materia Medica) 7. For diarrhea and dysentery: a. *Polygonum aviculare* 30 g, *Agrimonia pilosa* 30 g. Decoct in water for oral administration. (Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica, 1979 edition) b. Diarrhea: *Polygonum aviculare* 12 g, *Plantago asiatica* 9 g, *Agrimonia pilosa* 15 g. Decoct in water for oral administration. (Hunan Materia Medica) 8. For biliary ascariasis: *Polygonum aviculare* 100 g, vinegar 100 g, add 1 bowl of water, decoct to 1 bowl, take in 2 divided doses daily. (Changbai Mountain Phytomedicine)
