Han Cai
StarRorippa indica (L.) Hiern
Synonyms: Nasturtium indicum (L.) DC., Sisymbrium indicum L., Rorippa montana (Wall.) Small
☯ TCM Properties
Dispels phlegm, relieves coughing and releases the Exterior; Invigorates the Blood and removes toxicity,; Eliminates Dampness and treats jaundice
Traditional Chinese Uses
Han Cai is the whole herb of Rorippa indica (variously called Indian fieldcress or wild watercress), classed among the Phlegm-transforming medicinals. Pungent and bitter and warm, it enters the Lung and Liver channels. It dispels Phlegm, relieves cough and releases the Exterior for wind-cold or phlegm coughs and sore throat; it invigorates the Blood and relieves toxicity for amenorrhea, traumatic injury, sores and boils; and it eliminates Dampness to treat jaundice and edema. It has also been used to help bring out incomplete measles eruptions and for rheumatic joint pain. It is usually decocted at 10–30 g, with larger amounts when fresh.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Han Cai is the whole herb of Rorippa indica (Brassicaceae), variableleaf yellowcress, a largely glabrous annual or biennial 10 to 50 centimetres tall with erect or ascending, branched stems. Unlike aquatic watercress, it is a terrestrial plant of moist ground. The lower leaves are lyrate-pinnatifid with a large terminal lobe, while the upper leaves are smaller, oblong and coarsely toothed. Numerous small four-petalled yellow flowers are borne in elongating terminal racemes through spring and summer. The fruit is a slender, cylindrical, often slightly curved silique 1 to 2 centimetres long, splitting to release two rows of tiny seeds. The pungent whole plant is gathered and used fresh or dried.
A common weed of moist fields, ditch banks, roadsides, gardens and waste ground at low to moderate elevations throughout much of eastern and southern Asia.
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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