Pinyin: Fuping
Aliases
Shuiping, Pingzicao, Jiuziping.
Source
Plants of the Lemnaceae family, Spirodela polyrrhiza.Spirod-ela polyrrhizaDried whole herb of (L.) Schleid.
Plant
Morphology
A small perennial herb, floating on the water surface. Roots 5-11, fascicled, slender, fibrous, 3-5 cm long. New buds arise from the side of the root attachment point, connected to the mother plant by a thin, weak stalk before separation. Leaf-like thallus flat, solitary or 2-5 clustered, broadly obovate, 4-10 mm long, 4-6 mm wide, apex obtuse and rounded, upper surface slightly concave, dark green, lower surface purple, with indistinct palmate veins 5-11. Inflorescence arises from a notch at the edge of the thallus; flowers unisexual, monoecious; spathe pouch-like, short, bilabiate, containing 2 male flowers and 1 female flower, without perianth; male flowers with 2 stamens, anthers 2-celled, filaments slender; female flower with 1 pistil, ovary sessile, 1-locular, with 2 erect ovules, style short, stigma flat or ring-shaped. Fruit round, winged at the margin. Flowering period April to June, fruiting period May to July.
Habitat and Distribution
Grows in ponds, paddy fields, lake bays, or still waters. Widely distributed throughout northern and southern China.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvested from June to September, washed clean, impurities removed, and dried in the sun.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains orientin, luteolin-7-monoglycoside, vitexin, sitosterol, violaxanthin, palmitic acid, and other components.
Pharmacology
It has antipyretic effects; has no significant effect on normal frog hearts, but exerts a significant cardiotonic effect on failing frog hearts; also has vasoconstrictive and blood pressure-elevating effects; possesses certain anti-infective properties, can inhibit the growth of mosquito larvae and reduce their density; also has some anticoagulant effects; and can be used to prevent and treat fluorosis caused by high fluoride exposure.
Properties and Channel Entry
Acrid, cold. Enters the Lung channel.
Functions and Indications
Disperses and dissipates Wind-Heat, promotes eruption of measles, and promotes urination. Used for incomplete eruption of measles, rubella with pruritus, and edema with scanty urination.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoct in water, 3-9 g, fresh product 15-30 g; or extract juice for drinking; or made into pills or powder. External use: appropriate amount, decoct in water for fumigation and washing; grind into powder and sprinkle or apply.
Precautions and Contraindications
For those with exterior deficiency and spontaneous sweating, use is contraindicated.
Prescriptions
1. For wind-heat common cold: Spirodela (Floating Lemna) and Saposhnikovia root 9 g each, Burdock fruit, Peppermint, and Perilla leaf 6 g each. Decoct in water for oral administration. (Quanguo Zhongcaoyao Huibian) 2. For generalized deficient itching: Spirodela powder 3 g, taken with a decoction of Scutellaria root 3 g and Siwu Decoction. (Danxi Zuanyao) 3. For difficult urination due to stagnant water qi in the bladder: Dried Spirodela, ground into powder, taken in the amount of one square-inch spoonful with drink, 1-2 times daily. (Qianjin Yifang) 4. For acute nephritis: a. Spirodela 60 g, Black Soybean 30 g. Decoct in water for oral administration. (Quanguo Zhongcaoyao Huibian) b. Use dried Spirodela alone 9-12 g, ground into powder, mixed with white sugar for oral administration. (Zhenan Bencao Xinbian) 5. For incessant hematemesis: Purple-backed Spirodela (roasted) 15 g, Astragalus root (honey-fried) 7.5 g. Grind into powder, take 3 g per dose, mixed with ginger and honey water. (Shengji Zonglu) 6. For promoting hair growth: Use Spirodela to prepare a decoction for bathing, and also apply as a paste. (Puji Fang)
