Herbal Color Atlas 4

Author: Wang Yi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Water sagittaria, also known as shears vegetable, swallowtail grass, grandma vegetable, and small sagittaria. It is derived from the whole plant of Sagittaria sagittifolia Mak., a plant in the Alismataceae family.
Plant Morphology: Perennial herb. Fine, tender white roots with transparent transverse stripes, hollow. Leaves grow from the root cluster, several in number; the base of the petiole expands; the blade is arrow-shaped, with a sharp tip, and the leaf auricles spread sideways, entire.
A long stem grows from the leaf cluster; flowers are monoecious, arranged in whorls, with 3 flowers per whorl; lower flowers are female, upper flowers are male; white.
Aggregate fruits are spherical. Flowering period: May to June. Grows in paddy fields, ditches, and ponds. Produced in all parts of Guizhou. Distributed in areas south of the Yangtze River.
Properties and Effects: Pungent, cool. Clears heat and detoxifies, activates blood circulation, and relieves pain.
Clinical Applications:
① Treating carbuncles and boils: 20g of water sagittaria, mashed and applied externally.
② Treating snake bites and bee stings: An appropriate amount of water sagittaria, mashed and applied externally, or the juice can be applied.
③ Treating acute conjunctivitis: An appropriate amount of mashed water sagittaria applied to the eyelids.
④ Treating uterine bleeding and hemorrhoids: 20g of water sagittaria and 30g of iron, decocted and taken orally.
⑤ Treating erysipelas: An appropriate amount of water sagittaria, mashed and applied externally.
Dosage: 20–30g. P2