The Benefits and Medicinal Uses of Cirsium setosum (Xiao Ji), a Rural Wild Vegetable

In rural areas there are many kinds of wild vegetables, such as purslane, plantain, sow thistle, and so on, and they all have different uses. Today I will introduce another high-quality wild vegetable—Cirsium setosum, also known as Xiao Ji. So what are the benefits and effects of Cirsium setosum? What diseases can it treat? How is it eaten?

I. Introduction to Cirsium setosum

Cirsium setosum is a plant in the Asteraceae family, genus Cirsium, also called Xiao Ji, Ji Ji Cao, Ci Cai, Qu Qu Cai, Qing Qing Cai, Qi Qi Cai, Ci Jiao Cai, Bai Ji Jiao Ci, Qiang Dao Cai, Xiao E Ji Po, Xiao Ji Jiao Ci, Xiao Niu Zha Kou, Ye Hong Hua, and so on; it is a perennial herb; the ovate or elliptical leaves are alternate, with spiny margins and white silky hairs on both sides; it blooms with purplish-red flowers in summer, in terminal capitula; it grows in areas from 140 m to 2,650 m above sea level, generally in wasteland, grassland, mountain slopes and forests, roadsides, shrubland, fields, forest edges, and beside streams. The aboveground part of Cirsium setosum can be used as medicine, known as Xiao Ji, and it is currently cultivated artificially for medicinal use.

II. Benefits and Effects of Cirsium setosum

1. Nature, flavor, and meridian entry of Cirsium setosum: cool in nature, sweet and bitter in flavor; enters the heart and liver meridians.

2. Effects of Cirsium setosum: Cirsium setosum has the effects of cooling blood, removing blood stasis, stopping bleeding, and reducing swelling. It is generally combined with cattail pollen, akebia stem, and talc, and has good results in treating coughing up blood, blood in the urine, blood in the stool, uterine bleeding, traumatic bleeding, and carbuncles and swellings.

3. Actions of Cirsium setosum

(1) Cardiac stimulant effect

(2) Blood pressure-raising effect

(3) Effect on adrenergic receptors

(4) Bleeding-stopping effect

(5) Anti-mutagenic effect

(6) Antibacterial effect

4. Dietary contraindications for Cirsium setosum: Cirsium setosum is bitter and cool in nature, so it should not be taken by people with weak stomach and diarrhea, blood deficiency, or cold-deficiency of the spleen and stomach.

III. What Diseases Can Cirsium setosum Treat?

1. Stopping bleeding: For some bleeding symptoms, such as bleeding from a knife wound, we can pound Cirsium setosum into juice and apply it to the bleeding area, which can help us stop the bleeding quickly.

2. Treating high blood pressure: Cirsium setosum combined with some blood pressure-lowering herbs, decocted in water and drunk, can produce a good blood pressure-lowering effect.

3. Treating vomiting blood and coughing up blood: Pound the leaves and roots of Cirsium setosum into a pulp, squeeze out the juice, and take it.

4. Treating itching of the female genitalia: Boil Cirsium setosum in water into a juice, then wash the genital area with it, using it once every three days and washing three times a day, and it will gradually improve.

5. Treating asthma: Cook Cirsium setosum together with pork, and after the meat is tender, remove the solids and drink only the broth, eating it once every 3-5 days; it also has a certain auxiliary effect on asthma.

6. Treating excessive bleeding from miscarriage: Take 155 g each of the roots and leaves of Cirsium setosum and motherwort, add two large bowls of water and decoct down to one bowl, and take it in two doses.

7. Treating urinary tract infection and blood in the urine: 15 g each of Cirsium setosum and Kalimeris indica root, decocted in water and taken.

8. Treating heart heat and dry mouth: Pound the roots and leaves of Cirsium setosum into juice and take it; it is very effective for relieving heart heat, restlessness, and dry mouth.

9. Treating acute nephritis: 15 g of Cirsium setosum, 9 g of rehmannia root, and 60 g of cogongrass rhizome, decocted in water and taken.

Cirsium setosum does have good therapeutic effects in treating these conditions, but it should still be used under the guidance of a physician.

IV. How Is Cirsium setosum Eaten?

Cirsium setosum is one of the common wild vegetables in rural areas; generally its young shoots are eaten, and they can be stir-fried, made into soup, served as a cold salad, or cooked into porridge.

Conclusion: Through the introduction in this article, I believe everyone now understands the benefits and effects of Cirsium setosum. Its greatest benefit is that it is very effective in stopping bleeding, but when taken as a decoction it must be taken under a doctor's guidance, because taking too much can cause vomiting and even diarrhea.