Cosmos, Mexican Aster

Garden Cosmos
Da Bo Si Ju (TCM)
Picture Cosmos bipinnatus
Step, E., Bois, D., Favourite flowers of garden and greenhouse (1896)

Picture Cosmos bipinnatus
(Photo by Leo Michels, cropped) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:


Cosmos bipinnatus, C. sulphureus

Parts used:


Whole herb in flower; Flower; Root

Temperature & Taste:


Neutral. Sweet

Classification:




Uses:


1. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-Heat-type bleeding
-other disorders due to heat in the blood including Eczema, Erysipelas

2. Clears Heat, Resists Poison: (TCM, Sth  America)
-Boils, Toxic Sores
-Intermittent Fever; Malaria (South America)
-made into an oil for topical application to sores, inflammations and skin diseases (South America)
-Jaundice, Splenomegaly

3. Nourish Liver Blood:
-improves Complexion
-brightens the Eyes (TCM)


Dose:


Decoction: 3–6 grams

Main Combinations:



Major Formulas:



Cautions:


None noted

Main Preparations used:



Research:


1. ANTIBACTERIAL:
–Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oil of Cosmos bipinnatus Cav. Leaves from South Africa

2. HEPATOPROTECTIVE:
–Chemical characterisation and hepatoprotective potential of Cosmos sulphureus Cav. and Cosmos bipinnatus Cav