Pinyin: Jingjie
Aliases
Jiasu, Jiangjie.
Source
Lamiaceae plant *Schizonepeta tenuifolia* (Benth.) Briq.Schizonepeta tenuifoliaThe dried aerial parts of Briq.
Botanical Description
Annual herb, 60-100 cm tall. Possesses a strong aromatic odor. Stem erect, quadrangular. Entire plant covered with grayish-white short pubescence. Leaves opposite; basal leaves sessile or subsessile, pinnately deeply divided with 5 lobes; middle and upper leaves sessile, pinnately deeply divided with 3-5 lobes, lobes 1-3.5 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm wide, lanceolate, entire margin, dark green above, grayish-green below. Flowers in verticillasters, numerous whorls densely arranged at branch tips forming spikes, 3-13 mm long; bracts leaf-like, 4-17 mm long; bracteoles linear, smaller; flowers small; calyx funnelform-obconical, covered with gray pubescence and yellowish-green glandular dots, apex 5-toothed, teeth ovate-triangular; corolla light reddish-purple, bilabiate, about 4 mm long, upper lip 2-lobed at apex, lower lip 3-lobed with middle lobe largest; stamens 4, didynamous; ovary 4-lobed, style basal, stigma 2-lobed. Nutlets 4, oblong-trigonous, brownish, surface smooth. Flowering July to September, fruiting September to November.
Habitat and Distribution
Born and grown at an altitude of 540-2700 m on hillsides, roadsides, valleys, or forest edges. Mostly cultivated, also found wild. Distributed in Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Henan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and other regions; cultivated in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Yunnan, and other areas.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvested in summer and autumn when the flowers are in full bloom at the top of the spike and the spike is still green, cut the aerial parts, remove impurities, and dry in the sun.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains isomenthone, menthone, pulegone, schizonepetin, and other components.
Pharmacology
Has antipyretic and cooling effects; sedative and analgesic; has significant anti-inflammatory effects; hemostatic effect is significant; small doses slow heart rate and enhance myocardial contractility compensatorily, while large doses significantly inhibit cardiac contraction until arrest, which can recover after discontinuation; has the effect of inhibiting duodenal smooth muscle and exciting uterine smooth muscle; has significant expectorant and antiasthmatic effects; inhibits immune function; has strong antioxidant and antimicrobial effects; also has some inhibitory effects on phosphodiesterase and adenylate cyclase, and has weak inhibitory effects on cancer cells.
Properties and Channel Entry
Acrid, slightly warm. Enters the Lung and Liver channels.
Functions and Indications
Releases the exterior and disperses Wind, promotes eruption of measles, and resolves sores. Used for common cold, headache, measles, rubella, and early-stage sores and ulcers.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoct in water, 3-10 g; or made into pills or powder. External use: appropriate amount, decoct in water for fumigation and washing; mash for topical application; or grind into powder for mixing and application. For expelling Wind and relieving Exterior conditions, use raw; for stopping bleeding, use charred.
Precautions and Contraindications
Contraindicated for exterior deficiency with spontaneous sweating and yin deficiency with headache.
Prescriptions
1. For wind-heat toothache: Jingjie (Schizonepeta), Bohe (Peppermint), and Xixin (Asarum) in equal parts. Grind into powder. Take 6 g each time, steep in boiling water, rinse the mouth, hold and swallow, and also rub on the teeth. (Zhi Zhi Fang) 2. For urticaria: Chixiaodou (Adzuki Bean) and Jingjie (Schizonepeta). Dry in the sun and grind into powder. Mix with egg white and apply thinly. (Zhi Zhi Fang) 3. For furunculosis: One handful of Jingjie (Schizonepeta), cut into pieces, decoct with five sheng of water until two sheng remain, cool and take in two divided doses. (Yao Xing Lun) 4. For dampness erosion between the toes: Crush Jingjie (Schizonepeta) leaves and apply topically. (Jian Bian Dan Fang) 5. For uterine prolapse: Jingjiesui (Schizonepeta spike), Huoxiangye (Agastache leaf), and Chouchunshupi (Ailanthus bark). Decoct in water and steam the affected area, and the uterus will retract. (Shi Yi De Xiao Fang) 6. For hematuria: One ge of Jingjie (Schizonepeta, crushed), one ge of Damai (Barley, raw), one ge of Heidou (Black Soybean, raw), and 6 g of Gancao (Licorice, raw). Mix the above ingredients evenly, add one and a half cups of water, decoct until one cup remains, strain the dregs, and take warm in two doses, after meals and before sleep. (Yang Shi Jia Cang Fang, Gui Xue San) 7. For hematochezia: Jingjie (Schizonepeta), stir-fry and grind into powder. Take 6 g with rice water, or for women, with wine. It can also be mixed with flour to make wontons and eaten. (Jing Yan Fang)
