The Efficacy and Function of Imperata Root
Disease description:
Male, 35 years old. Recently, I have been experiencing heat in the lungs. I live in the countryside, and my grandmother asked me to dig some Imperata root (Rhizoma Imperatae) to brew and drink. May I ask what are the functions and effects of Imperata root?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. He Haochen
Imperata root, also known as white Imperata root, is a traditional Chinese medicine whose functions and effects mainly include the following:
1. **Cooling the blood to stop bleeding**: Imperata root has a sweet and cold nature, effectively clearing heat pathogens from the blood. It shows significant therapeutic effects on bleeding symptoms caused by blood heat, such as hematemesis, hematuria, and epistaxis.
2. **Clearing heat and promoting diuresis**: Imperata root enters the lung, stomach, and bladder meridians, exerting effects of clearing heat and promoting urination. It is effective in treating symptoms such as edema, dysuria, and painful urinary retention caused by downward invasion of damp-heat to the bladder.
3. **Clearing heat from the lungs and stomach**: Imperata root can clear heat from the lungs and stomach, helping to alleviate symptoms such as vomiting due to stomach heat and cough due to lung heat.
4. **Tonifying the middle jiao and boosting qi**: Imperata root also has the effect of strengthening the middle jiao and replenishing qi. It is primarily used to treat heat pathogens in the intestines and stomach, relieves thirst, and strengthens the tendons. It is suitable for individuals suffering from autumn dryness impairing the lungs, xerostomia, and dry or sore throat.
