Pinyin: Zeqi
Aliases
Wufengcao, Daodusan, Jiu Tou Shi Zi Cao
Source
Plant of the Euphorbiaceae family *Euphorbia helioscopia* L.Euphorbia helioscopiaL. in the dried whole herb.
Botanical Description
Annual or biennial herb, 10-30 cm tall. The entire plant contains white latex. Leaves alternate; sessile or with a short petiole due to abrupt narrowing; leaf blades obovate or spatulate, 1-3 cm long, 0.5-1.8 cm wide, apex obtuse-rounded, with notches or fine serrations, base cuneate, both surfaces dark green or gray-green, sparsely covered with long hairs, lower leaves smaller, gradually shedding after flowering. Cyathium terminal, with 5 rays, each ray further dividing into 2-3 small rays, each small ray again dichotomously branched; involucre with 5 whorled leaf-like bracts at the base, similar to the lower leaves but larger; involucre cup-shaped, apex 4-lobed; male flowers more than 10, each with 1 stamen, with a short stalk, anthers divergent, spherical; female flower 1, located at the center of the inflorescence; ovary with a long stalk, extending beyond the inflorescence; ovary 3-loculed; styles 3, stigmas 2-lobed. Capsule spherical, about 3 mm in diameter, 3-lobed, smooth. Seeds brown, ovoid, about 2 mm long, with distinctly raised reticulate patterns and a white semicircular caruncle. Flowering period April to May, fruiting period May to August.
Habitat and Distribution
Grows in mountain valleys, roadsides, wilderness, and wetlands. It is distributed throughout China except Tibet.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvested during flowering in April to May, remove the roots and sediment, then dry in the sun.
Chemical Constituents
This product mainly contains components such as quercetin-3,5-di-D-galactoside and helioscopinol.
Pharmacology
It has antitussive, expectorant, and anticancer effects; clinically, it shows certain efficacy against tuberculosis and has strong irritant effects on the skin and mucous membranes.
Properties and Channel Entry
Pungent and bitter, slightly cold, toxic. Enters the Lung, Large Intestine, and Small Intestine channels.
Functions and Indications
Promotes diuresis to reduce edema, resolves phlegm and stops cough, detoxifies and kills parasites
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoct in water, 3-9 g; or prepared as a paste, used in pills or powders
Precautions and Contraindications
Use with caution in those with Qi and Blood deficiency, as well as Spleen and Stomach deficiency.
Prescriptions
1. For a mass in the epigastric region as large as a cup, causing inability to eat: *Tingli* (stir-fried) 60 g, *Dahuang* 60 g, *Zeqi* 120 g. Pound and sieve, mix with honey to form pills, and pound one thousand times. Take two pills the size of *Wutong* seeds, three times daily, gradually increasing. (From *Buque Zhouhou Fang*) 2. For scrofula: One to two bundles of *Zeqi*, two buckets of well water, boil in a pot until reduced to one bucket, remove the dregs and clarify, then boil again until reduced to one bowl, store in a bottle. Each time, boil a decoction of pepper, scallion, and locust twigs to wash the sores clean, then apply this ointment. (From *Gangmu*, citing *Bianmin Fang*) 3. For tinea with parasites: *Zeqi*, sun-dried and ground to powder, mix with sesame oil and apply topically. (From *Weisheng Yijian Fang*) 4. For neurodermatitis: Apply fresh *Zeqi* white sap directly to the lesion, or pound with *Chunshu* leaves and apply together. (From *Xiongdi Shengshi Zhongcaoyao Danfang Yanfang Xinliaofa Xuanbian*) 5. For cancer: a. Lymphosarcoma: *Zeqi* 15 g, *Sheliugu* (decoct first) 30 g, *Tufuling* 30 g, *Chuanshanjia* 9 g. Decoct in water and take orally, 1 dose daily. (From *Kangai Zhongcaoyao Zhiji*) b. Cervical cancer: *Zeqi* 100 g, add an appropriate amount of water, boil with 3 eggs, eat the eggs and drink the soup after cooking, 1 dose daily. (From *Shaanxi Zhongcaoyao*) 6. For insufficient lactation: Fresh *Zeqi* 30 g, with an appropriate amount of yellow wine, stew and take orally. (From *Fujian Yaowu*) 7. For epidemic red eye (acute epidemic hemorrhagic conjunctivitis): *Zeqi* 30 g (double if fresh), *Shengbaifan* 6 g. Use 500 ml of water, decoct for 5 minutes, first take 30 ml orally, then use the hot decoction to steam and wash both eyes, 15-20 minutes per session, 2-3 times daily. (From *Shandong Zhongyi Zazhi*)
