What diseases can foxtail grass treat? The benefits and symbolism of this annual herbaceous plant
Friends who grew up in the countryside should be familiar with foxtail grass; it looks like a weed. Foxtail grass is also called Arhat grass, barnyard grass, and green foxtail. It is also a medicinal herb. It can be harvested in summer and autumn, washed clean, and dried in the sun for later use. So what diseases can foxtail grass treat? What is it used for? What does it represent?
Foxtail grass, also known as green foxtail, is an annual herbaceous plant in the grass family, Poaceae, and the genus Setaria. Its roots are fibrous, and tall plants have prop roots. The culms are erect or bent at the base, 10-100 cm tall, with a basal diameter of up to 3-7 mm. The leaf sheaths are loose, hairless or sparsely covered with soft hairs or papillate hairs, with longer densely cottony cilia along the edges; it has the effects of dispelling wind and improving vision, and clearing heat and promoting urination. It grows in wilderness and along roadsides below 4000 m in altitude, and is a common weed in dryland crops.
What diseases can foxtail grass treat
Traditional Chinese medicine holds that foxtail grass is sweet and neutral in nature, and has the effects of clearing the liver and improving vision, promoting urination, and detoxifying. It can be used for the treatment of conjunctivitis, decreased vision, difficult urination, and so on.
1. In "Compendium of Materia Medica", Li Shizhen believed that foxtail grass can "treat verruca and bind the hair, which dries and falls off once pierced. For those with red eyes and ingrown eyelashes, turn over the eyelid and use one or two stems dipped in water to scrape away the bad blood."
2. In "Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica", it is also recorded that foxtail grass can "treat boils, abscesses, and tinea. For tinea on the face, take the effective stem, knead it soft, and rub it on from time to time."
3. "Luchuan Materia Medica" says that foxtail grass can "remove dampness and reduce swelling. Treat impetigo."
4. "Guizhou Folk Prescriptions and Medicines": relieve fever and treat eye diseases. It is also used to treat measles (warts).
5. "Chongqing Herbal Medicine": treat eye diseases with tearing and blurred vision.
Overall, foxtail grass has the effects of clearing heat and draining dampness, clearing the liver and improving vision, and detoxifying and promoting urination. It is mainly used to treat wind-heat common cold, painful urination, red and painful eyes, red and swollen eyes, and so on.
What is foxtail grass used for?
1. Forage value
The stems and leaves of foxtail grass can be used as feed, and it is a plant that cattle, donkeys, horses, and sheep love to eat. The hay in autumn can also be used as fuel to boil water and cook food, for warmth, and for bedding. The spikelets can be used to extract furfural. The whole plant contains 2.6% crude fat, 10.27% crude protein, 34.55% nitrogen-free extract, 34.40% crude fiber, and 10.60% crude ash. After boiling the whole plant in water for 20 minutes, the filtrate can be sprayed to kill cabbage worms.
2. Medicinal value
Clears heat and drains dampness; dispels wind and improves vision; detoxifies; kills insects. Mainly for wind-heat common cold; jaundice; infantile malnutrition; dysentery; painful urination; red and painful eyes; red and swollen eyes; carbuncle swelling; common warts; sores and tinea.
What does foxtail grass represent?
Flower language
The flower language of foxtail grass is endurance, love that is not understood by others, difficult love, and also secret love. It represents being unknown and unnoticed.
Symbolism
Braid three stalks of foxtail grass into a braid, make it into one strand, according to the size of the finger, then bend it into a loop and tie a knot, and wear it on the finger, representing a private pledge to marry for life.