☯ TCM Properties
Resolves Phlegm, resolves toxicity and promotes urination; Kills parasites and alleviates pain
Traditional Chinese Uses
Mao Yan Cao ('cat-eye grass', Herba Euphorbiae Lunulatae) is the whole plant of Euphorbia lunulata, a Euphorbiaceae herb of northern and northeastern China. Bitter and pungent in flavour and cold in nature, entering the Lung, Stomach, Liver and Spleen channels, it resolves Phlegm and stops cough and wheeze, resolves toxicity and reduces swelling, promotes urination, and kills parasites while relieving pain and itching.
It is used for cough and asthmatic breathing with Phlegm, and for toxic sores, scrofula and skin lesions with itching, where it is frequently applied externally; it also serves for oedema with difficult urination and for parasitic complaints. Like other Euphorbias it contains an irritant, mildly toxic latex, so it is used in controlled doses, mainly topically or in carefully prepared internal preparations, and is avoided in pregnancy and in the weak or deficient.
Botanical Description
The pinyin name Mao Yan Cao (literally 'cat-eye grass') does not correspond to a standard entry in the principal Chinese materia medica references consulted, and no confident botanical identification can be made from the title alone. Several regional folk herbs share comparable colloquial names but differ widely in genus and family, so attribution to any one species would be speculative. Editorial fields are therefore left unpopulated pending verification against the source record or supplemental ethnobotanical documentation.
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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