E Bu Shi Cao is also known as Centipeda Minima, which is an annual herb belonging to the Asteraceae. It first appeared in <Shi Xing Ben Cao> (Diet Herbal) in the 10th century.
This plant often grows in fields and wetlands at an altitude of 100-1,900 meters and is a common weed that is currently not cultivated artificially. It can be found in China, Malaysia, Japan, North Korea, India, and Oceania.
From May to June of each year, people gather all parts of Centipeda minima, wash them with water, remove their impurities, and use them directly or make them into Chinese herbs.
E Bu Shi Cao contains taraxasteryl palmitate, taraxasteryl acetate, taraxasterol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, volatile oils, flavonoid, amino acids, and organic acids.
According to <Compendium of Materia Medica>, the medicinal property of E Bu Shi Cao is relatively warm, with a pungent taste. It has a certain therapeutic effect on the pathological changes of the lung and liver meridians.
In Chinese medicine, E Bu Shi Cao is often used to treat cold, rhinitis, sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, conjunctivitis, and rheumatic pain.
Health benefits of E Bu Shi Cao
- Anti-inflammation, anti-allergen, and anti-tumor.
- Relieving the stuffy nose and runny nose caused by wind-cold or flu.
- Relaxing bronchial smooth muscles, relieving cough and asthma, and eliminating phlegm.
- Eliminating blood stasis and relieving swelling and pain due to bruises, soft tissue damage, and rheumatism.
- Treating acute conjunctivitis, keratitis, pannus, cataract and improving vision.
- Treating chronic bronchitis, malaria, facial paralysis, and incomplete intestinal obstruction.
- Treating chronic rhinitis, acute rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, atrophic rhinitis, nasal polyps, and sinusitis.
- Inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus A, pneumococcus, typhoid bacillus, Shigella dysenteriae, and Escherichia coli.
- The topical application after mashing it can treat snake bites and psoriasis.
E Bu Shi Cao is used with other Chinese herbs
- It with Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel) and Ban Xia (Pinellia Rhizome) can eliminate phlegm and relieve whooping cough and cough caused by wind-cold.
- It with Xi Xin (Asarum), Bai Zhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae), and Cang Er Zi (Fructus Xanthii) can treat headaches, stuffy nose, and runny nose caused by wind-cold.
- It with Bo He (Mentha), Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae), and Ju Hua (Flos Chrysanthemi) can relieve the stuffy nose, runny nose, and headache caused by wind-heat.
- It with Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), Xi Xin (Asarum), Xin Yi Hua (Flos Magnoliae), and Qing Dai (Indigo Naturalis) can treat chronic rhinitis, paranasal sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis.
- It is ground into powder together with Xi Xin (Asarum), Bai Lian (Radix Ampelopsis), Xin Yi Hua (Flos Magnoliae), and She Xiang (Moschus), inhaled into the nose, and can treat sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, and allergic rhinitis.
Side effects of E Bu Shi Cao
E Bu Shi Cao can stimulate the gastrointestinal mucosa and strengthen the contraction of the stomach wall. Taking it in excess may cause stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting, acute abdominal pain.
Precautions of E Bu Shi Cao
- The dosage of E Bu Shi Cao should be controlled at 6-10g.
- It contains volatile oil, so it is not suitable for long-term decocting.
- It can be made into decoction or mashed for external use.
- People with gastritis or stomach ulcers should not take it.
- People with an excess-heat syndrome or blood deficiency should not take it.
- Pregnant women and children should not take it.