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Alternate Chinese names: 土牛膝根 tǔ niú xī gēn; 杜牛膝 dù niú xī

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Achyranthes longifolia Mak.; Achyranthes aspera L. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin in unofficial sources: Achyranthes bidentata Bl.; Achyranthes longifolia Mak.; Achyranthes aspera L.

Use: Medicinal

Category: Blood-quickening stasis-transforming agents / Blood-quickening menses-regulating agents

Properties: Bitter, sour; balanced.

Channel entry: Lung, liver, and kidney channels.

Actions and indications:

• Tǔ niú xī clears heat and resolves toxin in the treatment of painful swollen throat, for which it can be combined with Jīn yín huā (金银花 Lonicerae Flos, lonicera [flower]), Shè gān (射干 Belamcandae Rhizoma, belamcanda [root]), and Niú bàng zǐ (牛蒡子 Arctii Fructus, arctium [seed]).
• It quickens the blood and disperses stasis in the treatment of amenorrhea and painful wind-damp impediment (fēng shī bì) pain.
• Disinhibits urine and frees strangury: Combine with Mù tōng (木通 Akebiae Trifoliatae Caulis, trifoliate akebia) and Chē qián zǐ (车前子 Plantaginis Semen, plantago seed) to treat heat strangury.
• Tǔ niú xī also treats leg qì (jiǎo qì) (beriberi) with water swelling.

Dosage and method: Oral: 10–15g in decoctions. When using the fresh form, double this amount.

Production area: Achyranthes bidentata: Hénán, Shānxī, Shāndōng, Jiāngsū, ānhuī, Zhèjiāng, Jiāngxī, Húnán, Húběi, Sìchuān, Yúnnán, Guìzhōu. Achyranthes longifolia: Húnán, Húběi, Sìchuān, Yúnnán, Guìzhōu, Jiāngxī, ānhuī, Jiāngsū, Zhèjiāng, Fújiàn. Achyranthes aspera: Guǎngdōng, Guǎngxī, Yúnnán, Guìzhōu, Fújiàn, Shāndōng, Jiāngsū.

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