bian xu

Name: bian xu
Creator: Bencao Index

萹蓄·Herba Polygoni Avicularis

Knotgrass

About bian xu

Bian Xu (茹蓄) is knotgrass, recorded as Herba Polygoni Avicularis. It is bitter in flavour and slightly cold, enters the Bladder channel alone, and is filed among the herbs that drain Dampness.

Names

Pinyin	bian xu
Chinese	萹蓄
Latin Name	Herba Polygoni Avicularis
English Name	Knotgrass·knotweed; knotgrass; polygonum·Polygonum·knotweed
Japanese	henchiku
Korean	pyeonchuk

Classification

Category: Drain Dampness
Channels: Bladder
Flavour: Bitter
Temperature: Slightly Cold
Family: Polygonaceae
Species: Polygonum Aviculare
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Drains Damp-Heat from the Bladder, promotes urination and relieves painful urinary dysfunction

Damp-Heat Lin syndrome, including Heat Lin: burning, painful, frequent or dribbling urination with scanty or cloudy urine
Jaundice from Damp-Heat affecting the Liver and Gallbladder, in combination with other herbs

Kills parasites and stops itching

Intestinal parasites: tapeworm, hookworm, pinworm and roundworm
Itchy Damp skin lesions, including tinea, eczema and oozing sores, often washed with the decoction externally

Combinations

qu mai + che qian zi
Urinary discomfort from Stone Lin or Lower Jiao Damp-Heat
xiao ji + bai mao gen + pu huang
Blood (Xue) Lin.
jin qian cao + guang jin qian cao + lian qian cao + hai jin sha
Stone Lin.
di fu zi + ku shen
Genital itching from Damp-Heat, used topically as a wash
shi jun zi + wu mei
Roundworms.
fei zi + bai bu + bing lang
Pinworms, used as an external wash
qu mai
Painful urinary dysfunction.
mu tong + che qian zi + zhi zi + hua shi
Painful urination from Damp-Heat (Shi-Re Lin)
da huang + yin chen hao + zhi zi
Jaundice.
cang zhu + huang bai + bai xian pi + ku shen
Eczema.
yin chen hao + zhi zi
Damp-Heat jaundice.

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 8-16g; Tincture: 2-4ml	8-16 g	—	2-4 ml	—	—

Cautions

contraindication Urinary difficulty that stems from weakness of the abdomen
caution Too much, or too long a course, can deplete Qi
caution Excessive use can injure Jing (Essence)
caution May cause dermatitis or digestive upset
caution Weak, cold or deficient patterns with no Damp-Heat to drain; it is for a defined Damp-Heat picture, not continuous use
caution Burning or painful urination can have many causes, and some of them need medical assessment; not a self-treatment

Interactions

Drug interactions

Diuretics (chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, bumetanide, torsemide) and medicines that depend on fluid and electrolyte balance: water and electrolyte loss may increase