The story of medicinal materials of Polygonum cuspidatum

On the cliff beside the Great Buddhist Temple in the suburb of Langzhong, a famous historical and cultural city in Sichuan, the two characters "Tiger Creek" engraved on the cliff can still be clearly seen. It is said that this is related to the use of giant knotweed as a tiger to treat leg diseases in Sun Simiao.

According to legend, there was a steep mountain, dense forest and lush grass, and many precious medicinal materials grew here. One day, when Sun Simiao came here to collect herbs, he suddenly heard moaning. He hurried across the mountain stream, only to find a big tiger lying weakly on the opposite rock, looking at him eagerly. Sun Simiao stepped forward and crouched down. The tiger slowly lifted its feet and put them on his lap. When Sun Simiao saw that the leg was red and swollen, he quickly took out the medicine from the medicine bag, mashed it, took the mountain spring to adjust it, and applied it to the tiger's leg while feeding it to the tiger. A few days later, the tiger's leg disease was cured in Huo Ran. From then on, the tiger and Sun Simiao were inseparable and became his mount. Sun Simiao rode it to climb mountains, wading through water and collecting herbs.

The story of Sun Simiao's treatment of tigers spread all of a sudden. Later generations built the Yaowang Temple in the Great Buddhist Temple in memory of him. Because the medicine cured the tiger's leg disease, everyone called it "giant knotweed", which means that it cured the tiger's leg disease.

Whether Sun Simiao really cured the tiger's leg disease with giant knotweed can no longer be examined. However, in traditional Chinese medicine, Polygonum cuspidatum is indeed a good medicine for treating joint diseases blindly.

Polygonum cuspidatum, also known as big worm staff, bitter staff, blood vine and Jiulong root, is a rare plant Polygonum cuspidatum, and its roots are used as medicine. According to traditional Chinese medicine, Polygonum cuspidatum has bitter and flat taste, and has the functions of dispelling wind, promoting diuresis, removing silt and dredging channels. In vitro experiments show that Polygonum cuspidatum decoction has inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus A or B, Escherichia coli, herpes simplex virus, influenza virus, etc. It is an ideal anti-inflammatory and antiviral medicine.

Polygonum cuspidatum is used to treat bone and joint diseases and diseases caused by bacteria and viruses. Cleaning Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati, chopping, soaking in wine, and treating arthritis. The combination of Polygonum cuspidatum, Yinyanglian, Mahonia and Eriobotrya japonica leaves can treat chronic tracheitis. Adding Herba Hedyotidis Diffusae into Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati and decocting with water can treat appendicitis. Decocting Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati with water for oral administration can be used for the treatment of acute icteric infectious hepatitis, and the effective rate is over 90%.

Polygonum cuspidatum for external use can also treat burns and accelerate wound healing. Flushing vagina with Polygonum cuspidatum decoction can also treat candidal vaginitis.