This product is the rhizome and root of the perennial herb Giant Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc.) from the Polygonaceae family, and its stems and leaves can also be used medicinally. It is produced in most regions of mainland China, mainly in Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, and Sichuan. It is harvested in spring and autumn, with fibrous roots removed, washed, sliced fresh, and then dried. It can be used either dried or fresh.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Bitter, cold. Act on liver, gallbladder and lung meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Promoting bile secretion and reducing jaundice, clearing heat and removing toxins, invigorating blood circulation and resolving stasis, resolving phlegm and relieving cough.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for dampness-heat jaundice, leukorrhea. This product is bitter and cold, good at relieving middle energizer stagnation, reducing and purging liver-gallbladder dampness-heat, promoting bile secretion and reducing jaundice, and is also a good medicine for clearing heat and draining dampness. For dampness-heat jaundice, it can be used alone by decoction for effective results; it can also be combined with Virgate Wormwood, Phelloendron Bark, Gardenia for better efficacy. For dampness-heat accumulation in the bladder causing difficult and painful urination, leukorrhea, etc., it can be used alone for effective results, as in "Yao Sengli's Collection of Proven Prescriptions," where it is ground into powder and taken with rice water to treat five types of strangury. It can also be used with stranguria-relieving diuretics.
2. Used for burns, scalds, abscesses, sores, poisonous snake bites, etc. This product has the effect of clearing heat and removing toxins. For burns and scalds causing skin burning pain or yellow discharge after ulceration, it can be ground into powder and mixed with sesame oil for topical application, or combined with Sanguisorba, borneol into powder, mixed with oil and applied to the affected area. For abscesses and sores caused by dampness toxin accumulation in the skin, Giant Knotweed root can be burned to ash and applied, or decocted into a wash for the affected area. For poisonous snake bites, fresh product can be mashed and applied to the affected area, or decocted into a concentrated solution for internal use.
3. Used for blood stasis amenorrhea, traumatic injuries. It has the effect of invigorating blood and resolving stasis to relieve pain. For amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, it is often combined with Peach Kernel, Corydalis Tuber, Carthamus, etc. For traumatic pain, it can be combined with Chinese Angelica, frankincense, myrrh, Sanqi, etc.
4. Used for lung heat cough. It can both bitterly reduce and purge heat, and resolve phlegm and relieve cough, and can be decocted alone for use. It can also be combined with Fritillaria Bulb, loquat leaf, Bitter Apricot Seed, etc. In addition, it has a laxative effect and is used for heat accumulation constipation.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Bielu: "Facilitates menstruation, breaks blood stasis and resolves clots."
2. "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Treats various types of strangury in men and women."
3. Rihuazi Bencao: "Treats postpartum retention of lochia, abdominal distension and fullness, expels pus, treats sores, boils, and abscesses, postpartum dizziness due to hemorrhage in women, static blood from injuries, breaks wind-toxin and resolves qi stagnation."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 10-30g. Apply an appropriate amount externally.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Pregnant women should avoid taking it.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

Giant Knotweed contains Giant Knotweed glycosides, flavonoids, Rhubarb Rhizoma elements, and Rhubarb Rhizoma formic acid, and has effects of purgation, resolving phlegm and relieving cough, hemostasis, and analgesia. A 25% decoction inhibits Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, hemolytic streptococcus, cold-damage disease bacillus, dysentery bacillus, large intestine bacillus, and Proteus. It also has inhibitory effects on certain viruses.