Bai Hua She SheCao
StarHedyotis diffusa Willd.
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat, strongly relieves Fire toxins and reduces abscesses (internally and topically); Clears Heat and promotes urination
Traditional Chinese Uses
Bai Hua She She Cao is the whole herb of Hedyotis diffusa (syn. Oldenlandia diffusa, Rubiaceae), a bitter-sweet, cold herb that clears Heat and vigorously resolves Fire toxicity. It is a leading remedy for hot toxic sores, carbuncles, and abscesses—used both internally and as a topical poultice—and classically for intestinal abscess (appendicitis) and snakebite, often combined with Zi Hua Di Ding, Lian Qiao, and Ye Ju Hua. By clearing Heat and promoting urination it also drains Damp-Heat from the lower burner in hot, painful urinary dribbling. Broadly cooling across many channels, it is paired with Ban Zhi Lian (Scutellaria barbata) in contemporary formulas used as an adjunct in cancer care, where it is a widely studied toxin-resolving herb. Doses are relatively large (15-60 g decocted). Its cold nature makes it unsuitable for Cold-Deficiency patterns, and it is used cautiously in pregnancy.
Botanical Description
Hedyotis diffusa (synonym Oldenlandia diffusa) is a small, slender annual herb of the Rubiaceae, widespread on damp, sandy, or sunny disturbed ground across South and East Asia. It grows 15–50 cm tall, the prostrate to weakly ascending, four-angled stems branching diffusely from the base. Opposite, linear-lanceolate sessile leaves, 1–3 cm long and only 1–3 mm wide, are paired with persistent membranous interpetiolar stipules. Solitary (occasionally paired) tiny four-lobed white funnelform flowers about 2 mm across arise on filiform pedicels from the leaf axils, followed by small flattened-globose capsules. The entire above-ground plant, gathered fresh in summer or autumn while in flower and fruit, is the medicinal organ. It is dried in shade for storage. The species is morphologically delicate but is collected in commercial quantity for the modern Chinese oncology adjunct trade.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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