The Efficacy and Functions of Water Centipede (Herba Lycopi)

Generally, water centipede (Kalli) is the whole herb of the Cyperaceae plant Kalli with rhizomes included. It has various functions and effects, such as relieving superficies syndromes by疏散 wind, clearing heat and removing dampness, promoting blood circulation to remove toxicity, treating rheumatoid arthritis, and regulating blood pressure. The specific details are as follows:

1. Relieve superficies syndromes by dispersing wind

Water centipede can dispel wind pathogens from the body, relieve exterior syndromes and cold symptoms. It has an obvious therapeutic effect on symptoms such as fever, headache, and sore throat caused by colds. It helps the body sweat, thereby alleviating cold symptoms and promoting recovery.

2. Clear heat and remove dampness

Water centipede has the effect of clearing heat and removing dampness. It can eliminate heat-damp pathogenic factors within the body and improve various symptoms caused by descending damp-heat. It has certain adjuvant therapeutic effects on diseases such as acute bronchitis, whooping cough, malaria, jaundice, and dysentery, helping the body expel dampness and restore health.

3. Promote blood circulation and detoxify

Water centipede can promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis and detoxify to dissipate nodules. It has significant therapeutic effects on symptoms such as sores, skin itching, and venomous snake bites. It can promote blood circulation, accelerate toxin elimination, thereby alleviating swelling, pain, itching, and other symptoms, and promote wound healing.

4. Treat rheumatoid arthritis

Water centipede has the effect of dispelling wind and removing dampness. It can improve joint pain and swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis. It helps the body expel dampness, alleviate joint pain, and improve the patient's quality of life.

5. Regulate blood pressure

Water centipede also has a blood pressure-regulating effect and can serve as an adjunctive treatment for patients with hypertension. It helps lower and stabilize blood pressure levels, reducing risks associated with hypertension. However, when using water centipede to regulate blood pressure, it should be done under the guidance of a physician to avoid excessive or improper use.

When using water centipede, caution is required. Individuals with allergic constitutions and those with deficiency-cold in the spleen and stomach should use it cautiously to avoid allergic reactions or exacerbation of deficiency-cold symptoms. At the same time, water centipede may interact with other drugs, affecting their efficacy.