What are the main benefits and effects of the arrowhead?
The arrowhead, also known as cigu, jiandao grass, and swallowtail grass, is the corm of the arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia), a perennial aquatic herb in the genus Sagittaria of the family Alismataceae. It has the effects of detoxifying and promoting diuresis, preventing and fighting cancer, dispersing heat and dissolving nodules, and strengthening the heart and moistening the lungs. It has therapeutic effects on lumps, sores and boils, palpitations and heart palpitations, edema, cough due to lung heat, panting and breathlessness, and difficult urination. Let us take a look at the benefits and effects of the arrowhead below!
Medicinal Value of the Arrowhead
[Nature and Flavor] Sweet in flavor, slightly cold in nature.
[Meridian Tropism] Lung meridian.
[Effects] Astringes the lungs, stops cough, and stops bleeding. It mainly treats phlegm nodes and scrofula, lumps, sores and boils, cough due to lung heat, panting and breathlessness, palpitations and heart palpitations, edema, and difficult urination.
Related Discussions on the Arrowhead
1. "Tang Materia Medica": It mainly treats all poisons, postpartum blood depression, and attacks on the heart that threaten death, and difficult labor with retained placenta. Grind the juice and take one sheng.
2. "Diannan Materia Medica": It fortifies the stomach and intestines, stops cough, and treats blood-streaked phlegm or coughing up blood.
3. "Lingnan Collection of Materia Medica": Preserve it with salt to treat bites by rabid dogs, and also to treat niucheng (that is, hardness like stone).
Medicinal Effects of the Arrowhead
1. The arrowhead contains various alkaloids such as colchicine, and has the effects of preventing cancer and fighting cancerous swelling, detoxifying and reducing abscesses. It is often used to prevent and treat tumors.
2. The arrowhead mainly resolves all poisons, and can detoxify, reduce swelling, and promote diuresis. It is used to treat various unnamed toxic swellings and venomous snake bites.
3. The arrowhead contains various trace elements and has a certain heart-strengthening effect.
4. The water and other active ingredients contained in the arrowhead have the effects of clearing lung heat and moistening the lungs to stop cough.
5. The arrowhead contains starch, protein, and various vitamins, and is rich in trace elements such as potassium, phosphorus, and zinc. It has a regulatory and promoting effect on the human body's functions.
Selected Medicinal Formulas for the Arrowhead
1. To treat strangury and turbid urine: six liang of arrowhead root tubers, add an appropriate amount of water and decoct for oral intake.
2. To treat coughing blood due to lung deficiency: several raw arrowheads. Peel and mash them, mix evenly with honey and rice washing water, steam until cooked over rice, and take hot for effect.
Note: The arrowhead cannot be eaten raw; when cooked it is like taro and has a slightly bitter taste. Moreover, although it is nutritious, it should not be eaten in large amounts. Eating too much can cause intestinal wind and hemorrhoids, excessive uterine bleeding and vaginal discharge, dry heaving, damage to the teeth, loss of complexion, and dry skin and flesh, and pregnant women in particular should be cautious about eating it.