What are the effects and functions of the Lady's Tresses orchid?

The Lady's Tresses orchid, also known as Longbaozhu, Panlongcao, Zhubiancao, and other names, is the root or whole plant of Spiranthes sinensis (Lady's Tresses), a plant of the genus Spiranthes in the orchid family. Used as medicine, it has the effects of tonifying qi and nourishing yin, clearing heat and detoxifying, and tonifying qi and strengthening yang. It has therapeutic effects on weakness after illness, neurasthenia, yin deficiency with internal heat, cough with blood-streaked sputum, hemoptysis from pulmonary tuberculosis, headache, soreness and weakness of the lower back, and other conditions. Let us now take a look at the effects and functions of the Lady's Tresses orchid!

Medicinal Effects of the Lady's Tresses Orchid

[Nature and Flavor] Sweet, bland, and bitter in flavor; warm in nature.

[Meridian Tropism] Lung, heart, liver, and kidney meridians.

[Effects] Tonifies qi and nourishes yin, clears heat and detoxifies, tonifies qi and strengthens yang. It mainly treats weakness after illness, neurasthenia, yin deficiency with internal heat, cough with blood-streaked sputum, hemoptysis from pulmonary tuberculosis, headache, soreness and weakness of the lower back, summer fever in children, acute infantile convulsions, diabetes, spermatorrhea, leukorrhea, strangury with turbid discharge and leukorrhea, beriberi, and herpes zoster. For external use, it treats venomous snake bites, scalds and burns, and sores, ulcers, and abscesses.

Related Discussions on the Lady's Tresses Orchid

1. "Classification of Medicinal Herbs": Treats snake bites and beriberi.

2. "Tianbao Materia Medica": Adds essence and strengthens yang. Treats dizziness and soreness and weakness of the lower back.

3. "Guizhou Folk Prescriptions and Medicinal Collection": Tonifies weakness after illness.

4. "Luchuan Materia Medica": Detoxifies. Treats festering sores.

5. "Nanning City Drug Record": Clears heat and moistens the lungs. Treats heat cough.

6. "Hunan Materia Medica Record": Stops deficiency heat and thirst, and hemoptysis from pulmonary tuberculosis.

Medicinal Prescriptions of the Lady's Tresses Orchid

1. For deficiency-heat cough: Spiranthes sinensis 3 to 5 qian, decoct in water and take.

2. For tonic nourishment of weakness after illness: Lady's Tresses orchid 1 liang, cowpea root 5 qian, steamed with half a jin of pork or one young chicken for internal use; take one dose every three days, for three consecutive doses.

3. For diabetes: Lady's Tresses orchid root 1 liang, one pig pancreas, 1 liang of ginkgo. Add an appropriate amount of water, decoct, and take.

4. For strangury with turbid discharge and leukorrhea: Lady's Tresses orchid root 1 liang, 1 to 2 pig bladders. Decoct in water, add a little table salt, and take in two divided doses, morning and evening.

5. For elderly people with rectal bearing-down distension and blood in the stool: Pig Liaoshen 3 to 5 qian, fresh crucian carp 2 liang, cook thoroughly, add white sugar, and take.

6. For heart and stomach pain: Spiranthes sinensis 2 qian, realgar 3 fen, 2 garlic bulbs, pound together into a paste, and take mixed with boiling water.

7. For abscesses and swelling: Wash Spiranthes sinensis roots clean, place in a bottle, add an appropriate amount of sesame oil to seal and soak for later use. When using, pound the roots into a paste, apply to the affected area, and change once a day.

8. For venomous snake bites: Pound Spiranthes sinensis roots into a paste, then add wine lees and mix well, and apply to the wound. Adding a little realgar powder is even better.

9. For tonsillitis and summer fever: Lady's Tresses orchid 3 to 5 qian, decoct in water and take.

10. For herpes zoster: An appropriate amount of Spiranthes sinensis roots, sun-dry and grind into powder, mix with sesame oil, and apply.

11. For scalds and burns: Panlongjian 1 liang, 5 earthworms, a small amount of white sugar. Pound together into a paste for external application, changing the dressing once a day.

12. For physical weakness after illness: Lady's Tresses orchid, Millettia reticulata stem, and Panax ginseng 10 g each, astragalus 15 g, decoct in water and take.

13. For pulmonary tuberculosis with deficiency heat and hemoptysis: Lady's Tresses orchid 15 g, Fritillaria 9 g, decoct in water and take.

14. For summer fever in children: Lady's Tresses orchid 6 g, Commelina communis 15 g, decoct in water and take.