Gynura, San Qi Cao 三七草

Canton San Qi, Canton Tu San Qi
San Qi Cao, Ju Ye San Qi (TCM)
 Picture
Picture Gynura japonica
Siebold, P.F. von, Zuccarini, J.G., Flora Japonica (1842-1870)

Picture Gynura pseudochina
(Photo by Len Worthington) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:


Gynura japonica (syn. G. segetum, Porophyllum japonicum)
Related species appear to be used similarly:
  1. G. pseudochina (syn. G. nudicaulis) appears to be used similarly in India and Thailand.
  2. G. nepalensis is used topically to stop bleeding in Nepal.

Parts used:


Whole herb and/or Root

Temperature & Taste:


Neutral. Sweet, slightly Bitter

Classification:


3H. LACTAGOGUE

Uses:


1. Stops Bleeding:
-various types of Bleeding incl. Hemoptysis, Blood in the stool
-Flooding and Spotting in women
–Bleeding from Trauma

2. Moves the Blood, Resolves Stasis, Eases Pain
-Dysmenorrhea, Amenorrhea
-Postpartum Stasis with pain
–Abdominal pain associated with Blood stasis
–Bruising and Pain from Trauma

3. Clears Swelling, Eases Pain:
-Wind-Damp joint pain, Arthritis, Rheumatism
-Bone fractures
-Painful swellings
-Tumors and Cancer

4. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-Fever (Barefoot Doctors Manual)
-Snake and Insect Bites
-acute Mastitis
–Abscess, Breast Abscesses

5. Externally:
-fresh herb is beaten and applied to sores, abscesses, swellings, inflammations
-applied to Trauma and Bruising
-topically to skin diseases including Eczema
-topically to toxic bites including Snake and Scorpion
-beaten and applied to Breast Swellings and Breast Abscess
-fresh herb beaten is applied to swollen, painful joints


Dose:


Take with water or decoction to stop bleeding, taken with alcohol to move the Blood.
Powder: 1–3 grams
Decoction: 5–10 grams (15–30 grams fresh)
The Barefoot Doctors Manual says it (fresh plant) can be crushed and taken with wine.
It may be steeped in wine or alcohol and taken daily for chronic pain, swellings and arthritis.
The fresh herb can be beaten and applied topically to pains, bruises, swellings and abscesses.

Substitute:


Gynura has been used as a substitute for Notoginseng San Qi.

Comment:


This is both an adulterant and substitute for Notoginseng San Qi. It has similar effects, although weaker. But when the root is sold off as genuine San Qi, it becomes an adulterant.

Preparation:


The root can be prepared with alcohol to make it stronger to move the blood.

Main Combinations:


1. Amenorrhea, Gynura with Dang Gui, Ligustrum Chuan Xiong
2. Bleeding:
i. various kinds, Gynura with Burnet (Di Yu)
ii. from Heat, Gynura with Rehmannia Sheng Di, Paeonia rubra Chi Shao Yao
3. Uterine Bleeding from excess, Gynura with Anemarrhea Zhi Mu, Phellodendron Huang Bai (salt-fried), Dang Gui, Paeonia Bai Shao, Cyperus Xiang Fu

Major Formulas:



Cautions:


Not used during Pregnancy

Main Preparations used:



Research:

GENERAL / REVIEW
–Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of the genus Gynura (Compositae): A comprehensive review.