Bistorta, Bistort

Also called Snakeweed, Snake-root; Columbrina, Serpentaria, Serpentaria vulgaris, Dracunculus
Quan Shen  拳参 (TCM)
Gla sgang  གླ་སྒང༌  (Tibetan)
Picture Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485

Picture Hortus Medicus, Graves, 1834

Picture Picture
Bistort root
Notes on Pharmacognosy,
Otto Augustus Wall, 1902
 Bistort root
A Manual of Organic Materia Medica,
Maisch, 1882
Picture Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSION

Botanical name:


Polygonum bistorta (syn. Persicaria bistorta) (TCM, West)
P. viviparum is also used as a source of the drug in Unani.
P. macrophyllum (syn. P. sphaerostachyum) is used in Tibet.

Parts used:


Root; also the Leaf and juice of the herb

Temperature & Taste:


Cold, dry. Bitter

Classifications:


2N. REPELLENT.   2O. ASTRINGENT.   2P. HEMOSTATIC
3C. ALEXIPHARMIC

Uses:


1. Clears Heat, stops Leakage:
-Diarrhea, Dysentery, Colitis, Diverticulitis
-excess Sweating
-Ruptures, Hernia in Children or the Elderly
-Diabetes, Incontinence (powdered Leaf can be used also)

2. Cools the Blood, Clears Stasis, Stops Bleeding:
-bleeding from the Stomach, Lungs, Hemorrhoids, or excessive Menstruation
-powder can be used topically to stop bleeding
-decoction in wine (or the Essence or tincture) ‘dissolves congealed Blood’ (Salmon)
-whole plant decocted in equal parts wine and water stops Bleeding and resolves Bruising after Trauma

3. Clears Heat and Phlegm, Resolves Swelling:
-inflammation, swelling and tumors of the Jaws or Throat
-Scrofula, Lymphadenitis

4. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-prevents infection from Epidemic diseases
-all types of Fever
-used for Small Pox, Measles and other spotted Fevers

5. Clears Heat and Wind, Stops Spasms:
-convulsions, epilepsy, tetanus, spasms

6. Kills Worms:
-Leaf in Powder taken in 1 dram doses for Worms in Children (Salmon)

7. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Jaundice
-Fixed Salt of the root or whole plant is most effective

8. Externally:
-Trauma, Bruising
-puncture Wounds and Wounds of the Nerves, the oil in which the root or whole herb is boiled in applied
-wash or ointment for Sores, Wounds, Ulcers, Running sores
-mouthwash for Inflamed Mouth and Gums, loose teeth, spongy gums
-Canker sore and Sores of the Mouth and Throat, acid (vinegar) tincture as a wash or gargle
-in enemas for chronic Diarrhea or Dysentery
-douches for Leukorrhea or Ulcers of the Womb
-Ointment for Hemorrhoids or Anal Fissures
-juice is used for Polyps


Dose:


Powder of the Root or Leaf: 1–3 grams

Correctives:


 … available in PRO version

Substitutes:


 … available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


Bistort & Tormentil

1. Spotted Fevers and other infectious diseases: Bistort with  … available in PRO version
2. Intermittent Fever: Bistort with  … available in PRO version
3. Malaria, combine with Gentian
4. Apoplexy, Bistort with  … available in PRO version
5. Gonorrhea:
i. Bistort with  … available in PRO version
ii. Bistort with  … available in PRO version
6. Bed-wetting or Incontinence in Children, Bistort leaf  … available in PRO version
7. Diarrhea, Dysentery:
i. Diarrhea in children, Bistort with  … available in PRO version
ii. take Bistort with  … available in PRO version
iii. Chronic Diarrhea and Dysentery, Bistort  … available in PRO version
iv. Dysentery, Bistort  … available in PRO version
8. Hernia, Bistort with  … available in PRO version
9. Bleeding during pregnancy, Bistort with  … available in PRO version
10. Threatened Miscarriage, Bistort with  … available in PRO version
11. Hemorrhoids, Bistort with  … available in PRO version
12. Toothache, Bistort with  … available in PRO version
13. Douche for Leukorrhea, Ulcers of the Womb and Prolapse, Bistort with  … available in PRO version
14. Gargle for Inflammation and painful sore throat, Bistort with  … available in PRO version
15. Topically for Cancer, Bistort  … available in PRO version

Major Formulas


Decoction of Water Lily Compound
Powder for Bleeding During Pregnancy
Powder Against Miscarriage (Unani)
Powder of Muhafiz Janeen (Unani)
Electuary of Scordium
Sandalwood 8 (Tsan dan brgyad pa) (Tibetan Medicine)

Cautions:


1. Not used in constipation

Main Preparations used:


Distilled water of the Herb, the Tincture
GENERAL / REVIEW
–[Pharmacognostical identification on the Chinese drug quanshen].
–[On the substances in the rhizome of Polygonum bistorta L].
–Chemical composition of edible aerial parts of meadow bistort (Persicaria bistorta (L.) Samp.).

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
–The anti-inflammatory compounds of Polygonum bistorta: isolation and characterisation.
–Anti-inflammatory activity of Polygonum bistorta, Guaiacum officinale and Hamamelis virginiana in rats.
–Anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects of selected Pakistani medicinal plants in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells.

CYTOPROTECTIVE
–Anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects of selected Pakistani medicinal plants in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells.

ANTICANCER
–Anticancer constituents and cytotoxic activity of methanol-water extract of Polygonum bistorta L.
–Evaluation of Polygonum bistorta for anticancer potential using selected cancer cell lines.

INTERFERON-LIKE ACTIVITY
–The investigations into the interferon-like activity of Polygonum L. genus.