Gu Jing Cao
Naming
Gu Jing Cao (Flos Eriocauli) ——Kai Bao Ben Cao (Materia Medica In Kai-Bao Reign)
Origin
The headlike inflorescence of annual herb Eriocaulon buergerianum Koern. of family Eriocaulaceae.
Location
Mainly in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces of China.
Harvest
Collected in autumn.
The actual smell and taste
Non-smelly and bland taste.
Best quality
Big and tight in grayish white with short scape in light yellow, with light and soft texture, without roots, leaves and impurities.
Processing
Unprocessed.
Property
Pungent, slightly bitter and cool; liver and stomach meridians entered.
Actions
Clear liver heat, disperse wind-heat, improve vision and remove nebula.
Indications
A. Eye diseases due to liver heat and wind-heat
Because it can disperse wind-heat of face and head, and clear liver heat; it is indicated for blood-shot eyes and lacrimation with gritty secretion, photophobia or nebula of the eyes caused by wind-heat attacking exterior or liver heat attacking up. For eye diseases due to wind-heat, it is combined with herbs for dispelling wind and improving vision such as Chan Tui, Mu Zei. For eye diseases due to liver heat, it is combined with herbs for clearing liver and improving vision, such as Xia Ku Cao and Jue Ming Zi, etc.
B. Headache, toothache, sore throat due to wind-heat
For it goes up to head and dispel wind-heat, it is commonly indicated for headache, toochache and sore throat due to wind-heat, usually combined with wind-heat-dispelling herbs such as Man Jing Zi, Niu Bang Zi and Sheng Ma.
Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 5~15g.