Xian He Cao
English Name: agrimony, hairy-vein agrimonia
Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Agrimoniae
Medica Category: Stop-Bleeding Herbs
Properties: Xian He Cao enters the Lung, Liver, and Spleen channels; it is bitter and astringent in nature and neutral in temperature.
What is Xian He Cao?:
The Chinese Herb Xian He Cao is the dried aerial parts of hairy agrimony (Agrinomia Pilosa Ledeb.), a perennial plant in the Rosaceae (rose) family that blooms from June through August with bright yellow flowers… and although many parts of this plant are used as medicine, in TCM the dried aerial parts are used for their hemostatic and astringent actions.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Xian He Cao:
Xian He Cao astringes the leakage of blood and stops bleeding due to damage of the Lung and Stomach channels. Clinically it is commonly used to treat nosebleeds, coughing/vomiting up blood, blood in the urine/stools, and abnormal uterine bleeding. Xian He Cao also relieves chronic diarrhea/dysentery with mucus and blood present in the discharge (n.b. it is contraindicated for use in acute situations because its astringent nature may contribute to the retention of pathogens that the body is trying to expel).
Xian He Cao reduces swelling and eliminates pus and is used topically or internally to address breast abscesses as well as other swellings and ulcerations.
Xian He Cao kills parasites and can be used to address malaria, tapeworm, roundworm, and trichomonas vaginitis.
Xian He Cao is added to tonifying formulas for persons with qi and blood deficiencies caused by overexertion because Xian He Cao is astringent in nature; thus, it helps to prevent further leakage of the already deficient qi and blood.
**safety notes:
This herb may cause nausea and vomiting or palpitations and flushing.
Contraindicated in cases of acute diarrhea or dysentery as it may contribute to retention of pathogens.
This herb contains vitamin K, which may reduce the anticoagulant effect of warfarin (Coumadin) and should be used with caution/under supervision in order to prevent to formation of clots.