Main Varieties of Bidens and an Analysis of Its Regulating Effect on Blood Pressure

Bidens is a weed that reproduces by spreading seeds, growing beside rural roads and on wasteland. The appearance of Bidens often annoys farmers, as it not only competes with crops for water and nutrients but also makes crops prone to pests and diseases. However, it is indeed a miraculous medicinal herb, with effects of invigorating blood, clearing heat and detoxifying, truly making people love and hate it. Below let us take a look at what are the main varieties of Bidens? Does it have a regulating effect on blood pressure?

I. What are the main varieties of Bidens?

Bidens is mainly divided into Bidens cernua and Bidens bipinnata; below let us look at the introductions of these two varieties.

1. Bidens cernua

(1) Morphology: cylindrical stem, straw-colored or purple, hairless on the surface; the leaves are serrated, with prickles on them, and both sides of the leaves are rather rough. The flowers it produces often droop, with relatively long pedicels.

(2) Distribution area: North China, Northeast China, Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan, and other places.

(3) Growing environment: often grows beside marshes, in meadows and in water.

(4) Effects: invigorating blood, clearing heat and detoxifying, and promoting urination. It has certain benefits for dysentery, diarrhea, red and swollen throat, painful urination, rheumatism, sprains and so on.

2. Bidens bipinnata

(1) Morphology: the main stem is relatively straight, cylindrical, hairless; the leaves are also serrated, curving inward, hairless on both sides, usually opposite. The fruit has barbs, with relatively shallow edges, presenting an obovate shape.

(2) Distribution area: Korea, the Soviet Union (eastern Siberia), Japan, Jilin, Heilongjiang, eastern Inner Mongolia and Liaoning in China.

(3) Growing environment: often appears on both sides of roads and in relatively moist places beside rivers and streams. Places with relatively fertile soil and a relatively warm climate are where they appear more often.

(4) Effects: has effects of detoxifying, clearing heat, reducing swelling and dissipating blood stasis, and is often used to treat enteritis, dysentery and other conditions.

II. Does Bidens have a regulating effect on blood pressure?

Bidens indeed has a certain regulating effect on blood pressure. It not only lowers blood pressure in patients with hypertension but can also raise blood pressure in patients with hypotension; it is a good medicine with bidirectional regulation. This was discovered through research in recent years, though it is mostly used for its blood pressure-lowering effect. This medicine is relatively safe and can also reduce some side effects that arise from long-term use of a certain type of antihypertensive drug.

However, not everyone can take it; for example, it is unsuitable for pregnant women. Other patients with blood pressure conditions must take the dosage and usage under the guidance of professionals, so as to avoid certain adverse effects caused by blind self-medication.

The above is the answer to the questions of what the main varieties of Bidens are and whether it has a regulating effect on blood pressure. We hope it is of some help to you.