Bai Mao Gen
StarImperata cylindrica
Synonyms: Imperata filifolia, Imperata arundinacea var. pedicellata, Imperata sieberi, Imperata koenigii, Imperata angolensis, Imperata cylindrica var. major, Imperata arundinacea var. indica, Saccharum laguroides, Imperata cylindrica var. africana, Imperata arundinacea var. africana, Imperata arundinacea var. europaea, Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii, Imperata robustior, Saccharum cylindricum, Imperata praecoquis, Imperata cylindrica var. pedicellata, Imperata latifolia, Saccharum negrosense, Imperata arundinacea var. thunbergii, Imperata cylindrica subsp. koenigii, Saccharum sisca, Imperata cylindrica var. thunbergii, Imperata sisca, Imperata arundinacea var. glabrescens, Imperata cylindrica f. pallida, Imperata allang, Imperata arundinacea, Lagurus cylindricus, Imperata dinteri, Imperata koenigii var. major, Saccharum thunbergii, Imperata arundinacea var. koenigii, Calamagrostis lagurus, Imperata cylindrica subvar. koenigii, Saccharum koenigii, Saccharum europaeum, Imperata cylindrica var. latifolia, Imperata thunbergii, Imperata pedicellata, Imperata cylindrica var. europaea, Imperata arundinacea var. latifolia, Saccharum diandrum, Saccharum alopecurus, Imperata ramosa, Imperata cylindrica var. parviflora, Imperata laguroides, Arundo epigeios, Saccharum indum
☯ TCM Properties
Cools the Blood and stops bleeding; Clears Heat and promotes urination; Clears Heat from the Stomach and Lungs
Traditional Chinese Uses
Bai Mao Gen (woolly grass rhizome) is a sweet, cold herb that cools the Blood and stops bleeding while also clearing Stomach and Lung Heat and promoting urination. It is applied for Blood Heat bleeding conditions including nosebleeds, blood in the urine, and coughing up blood, as well as for fever-induced thirst, nausea from Stomach Heat, and edema from urinary difficulty. Its pleasant taste and gentle action make it one of the most suitable blood-cooling herbs for use as a daily medicinal tea or beverage.
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Imperata cylindrica is a perennial grass growing 0.3-1.5 m tall from an extensive network of creeping rhizomes. Leaves are flat, erect, linear, 20-120 cm long and 3-18 mm wide, with sharp, cutting edges and a prominent midrib. The inflorescence is a cylindrical, silky white, feathery spike 5-20 cm long due to long, silky, silver-white hairs on the spikelets. The rhizomes are slender, white to yellowish, and penetrate deeply into soil. In TCM, the dried rhizomes (Bai Mao Gen) are used, sweet-tasting when fresh.
Open, disturbed habitats, grasslands, roadsides, forest clearings, and degraded land; native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, and southern Europe; one of the most widespread grasses in the world.
Imperata cylindrica is one of the most problematic invasive grasses worldwide, classified as one of the ten worst weeds in the world. It has colonized large areas of disturbed land throughout tropical regions. No conservation concerns; the concern is rather about its invasive spread.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 15-30 g | daily | — | adult | Fresh rhizome 30-60 g. |
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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