What are the effects and uses of Wangbuliuxing (Cowherb Seed)

Wangbuliuxing, also known as Naimi, Wangbuliu, Laotoulanzi, etc., is the dried mature seed of the caryophyllaceae plant Vaccaria hispanica. It is distributed in all regions of the country except South China. As medicine it has the effects of promoting blood circulation and freeing menstruation, promoting lactation and reducing swelling, and promoting diuresis to treat strangury. It has therapeutic effects on amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, failure of lactation, breast abscess with swelling and pain, and strangury with painful urination. Let us take a look at the effects and uses of Wangbuliuxing below!

The medicinal effects of Wangbuliuxing

[Nature and flavor] Bitter in taste, neutral in nature.

[Meridian entry] Liver and Stomach meridians.

[Effects] Promoting blood circulation and freeing menstruation, promoting lactation and reducing swelling, and promoting diuresis to treat strangury. It mainly treats amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, failure of lactation, breast abscess with swelling and pain, and strangury with painful urination.

Medicinal contraindications of Wangbuliuxing

1. Bencao Jingshu: Pregnant women should not take it.

2. Bencao Huiyan: It must be avoided in blood loss disorders and metrorrhagia and metrostaxis.

Medicinal discussions of Wangbuliuxing

1. Bencao Gangmu: Promotes urination, expels bamboo and wood splinters.

2. Benjing: Stops bleeding from metal wounds, expels pain and removes splinters, eliminates wind-bi and internal cold. Long-term use lightens the body, resists aging, and increases longevity.

3. Bielu: Stops heart vexation and nasal bleeding, treats carbuncle, gangrene, malignant sores, and breast disorders, and treats difficult labor in women.

Clinical applications of Wangbuliuxing

1. Treatment of herpes zoster: Roast Wangbuliuxing until yellow and grind into powder, mix with warm boiled water into a paste, and apply externally to the affected area, 2 times a day, and for severe patients 3 to 4 times a day. This treated 50 cases of this disease (10 severe cases, 28 moderate cases, 12 mild cases). The results showed that moderate and mild patients recovered within 1 week, and in severe cases pain disappeared after 10 days and the rash formed scabs.

2. For induction of labor in late pregnancy: Larger doses of Wangbuliuxing and Jixingzi were decocted and taken orally, and were used for induction of labor in late pregnancy in 4 cases, all of which succeeded to varying degrees. Generally, prescriptions were given day by day and observed in separate doses, and the medication was stopped immediately once there was an effect, so as to avoid adverse consequences caused by excessive uterine contraction.

3. Treatment of oligospermia: Someone once roasted Wangbuliuxing seeds until dry and ground them into fine powder, mixed them with yellow rice wine, and applied them as a wet compress at the patient's umbilicus, changing the medicine once a day, with 20 days as 1 course of treatment. Generally, 5 to 7 courses were used, and good results were obtained in treating oligospermia. Using Wangbuliuxing seeds alone as an external application at the umbilicus is intended to dredge the qi and blood of the Ren meridian, so as to warm the kidney, transform qi, and promote sperm production.

4. Treatment of hemorrhoids: According to clinical reports, Wangbuliuxing seeds were placed in the center of 0.6 cm adhesive tape and auricular acupoint pressing was performed, with the two ears alternated for pressing, changing the pressing once every 1 to 2 days, with 5 times as 1 course of treatment. A total of 60 patients with hemorrhoids were treated. There were 21 cases cured after 3 changes, 16 cases cured after 4 times, 11 cases cured after 5 times, 7 cases cured after 6 times, and 3 cases cured after 8 times.

5. Moderate and advanced malignant tumors: Some data show that a formula made simply with Wangbuliuxing seeds plus chaff, Danshen, Bai Zaoxiu, Baihuasheshecao, Huangqi, Dangshen, Baizhu, Fuling, Ezhu and other medicines, decocted in water and taken orally, 1 dose per day, 5 doses per week, with continuous administration for 2 months as 1 course, was used to treat a total of 20 cancer patients, with an effective rate of 66.2%.

Medicinal selected prescriptions of Wangbuliuxing

1. To treat women with extremely little milk due to qi disorder: Qumaisui, Maimendong (with the core removed), Wangbuliuxing, Jinlonggu, and Chuanshanjia (roasted until yellow), each in equal parts. Grind the above five ingredients into powder. Take 1 qian each time, take it mixed with hot wine, then eat a little pig trotter soup, take the medicine, and use a wooden comb to comb about thirty times over the left and right breasts, take it three times a day, take it before meals, take the soup three times, and comb the breasts three times.

2. To treat difficult labor with transverse presentation and dead fetus in the abdomen: Wangbuliuxing, Suanjiangcao (for dead fetus, use after roasting), Chongweizi, Baijili (with thorns removed), and Wulingzhi (for promoting blood circulation, all used raw), each in equal parts, made into powder. Take 3 qian each time to cause purgation. Use one and a half cup of mountain water. Add a pinch of Baihua Liujinuzi, decoct together and take warm.

3. To treat unremitting bloody strangury: Wangbuliuxing 1 liang, Danggui body, Chuan Xuduan, Baishao, and Danshen each 2 qian. Divide into two doses and decoct in water for oral administration.

4. To treat various strangury disorders and frequent difficulty in urination, pain in the genital area, and rising dozens of times a day, all caused by strain, deficiency, and deficient heat: Shiwei (with hairs removed), Huashi, Qumai, Wangbuliuxing, and Kuizi each 2 liang. Pound and sieve into powder. Take one fangcunbi each time, 3 times a day.

5. To treat carbuncle and swelling: Wangbuliuxing (made into powder) 2 sheng, Gancao 5 liang, Yegge 2 liang, Guixin 4 liang, Danggui 4 liang. The above five ingredients, process and sieve together. Take one fangcunbi with wine, 3 times a day and 1 time at night.

6. To treat the initial stage of breast abscess: Wangbuliuxing 1 liang, Pugongying and Gualouren each 5 qian, Danggui tip 3 qian. Decoct in wine and take.

7. To treat the initial stage of ding swelling: Wangbuliuxing seeds made into powder, and Chansu pills the size of millet. Take 1 pill each time with wine. Recovery occurs after sweating.

8. To treat unremitting nasal bleeding: Jianjinhua with stems and leaves, dried in the shade, decocted into a thick juice, and taken warm.

9. To treat bleeding after defecation: Wangbuliuxing powder, taken with water, 1 qian.

10. To treat head wind and white dandruff: Wangbuliuxing and Xiangbaizhi in equal parts, made into powder. Sprinkle dry for one night, then comb off.