Tianpeng Grass

Other Names: Snow-in-Flower, Cold Herb, Golden Thread Hanging Gourd, Snow-Blooming Flower, Little Red Girl, Submerged Grass, Literary Collection Grass, Chickweed, Orchid-Clothed Ginseng, Hemp Thread Vegetable, Cucumber Grass.

Energetic Properties: Acrid (spicy) in flavor, neutral in nature.

Meridian Tropism: Enters the Lung and Spleen Meridians.

Medicinal Part: The whole herb.

Botanical Features: The entire plant typically measures 15-30cm in length, presenting a dull green hue. Its leaves are oppositely arranged, with complete leaf blades being oblong or ovate-lanceolate, ranging from 5-20mm long and 2-3mm wide. They taper to a point at the apex and feature entire or slightly wavy margins. Cymes (flower clusters) emerge terminally or from leaf axils. The plant bears 5 lanceolate sepals with pointed tips and a smooth texture. The flowers possess 5 white petals, deeply cleft into two lobes. There are 5 stamens and 2-3 styles. The fruit is a capsule, longer than the persistent calyx, splitting into 6 valves when mature. The herb has a faint aroma and a mild taste.

Tianpeng Grass traditional Chinese medicine plant

How to Use Tianpeng Grass

Internal Use: For decoction, use 30-60g.

External Use: An appropriate amount can be pounded into a paste for topical application, or ground into a powder and mixed before applying.

Preparation: Harvest from spring to early autumn, wash clean, and use either fresh or sun-dried.

Benefits and Actions of Tianpeng Grass

Key Benefits: Dispels Wind and Dampness, invigorates blood and reduces swelling, detoxifies and stops bleeding.

Traditionally Used For: Common cold (Wind-Cold type), diarrhea, dysentery, rheumatic bone pain, traumatic injuries (such as sprains, strains, and contusions), bone fractures, carbuncles, sores, swellings with toxicity, hemorrhoids, snakebites, hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleeds), and traumatic bleeding.

Research suggests that herbs with similar traditional uses, like Chickweed (often equated with Tianpeng Grass aliases such as 鹅儿肠 or 雀舌草), possess significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which align with Tianpeng Grass's traditional applications for pain and swelling. PMID: 27663297

Tianpeng Grass Formulations

  1. For Common Cold: Tianpeng Grass 60g, brown sugar 15g. Decoct with water and take twice daily. After consumption, cover up to induce a slight sweat. (From "Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine")
  2. For Childhood Diarrhea: Tianpeng Grass 30g, Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) 60g. Decoct with water and take. (From "Hunan Materia Medica")
  3. For Cold Dysentery: Tianpeng Grass 60g. Decoct with water and take twice daily. (From "Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine")
  4. For Hemorrhoids: Ground Tianpeng Grass into a powder. For wet hemorrhoids, apply directly as a dry powder; for dry hemorrhoids, mix with sesame oil and apply one or two times, and the hemorrhoids will shrink. (From "Compendium of Materia Medica Supplement")
  5. For Traumatic Injuries (Sprains, Strains): Tianpeng Grass 30g, yellow wine 60-120g. Add an appropriate amount of water and decoct for oral consumption.
  6. For Boils/Carbuncles: Fresh Tianpeng Grass, appropriate amount. Add a pinch of salt, pound into a paste, and apply topically.
  7. For Snakebites: Tianpeng Grass 30-60g. Decoct with water for oral consumption. Separately, take a handful of fresh herb, wash clean, pound into a paste, and apply to the wound. (Formulas 5-7 from "Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine")

Studies on related botanical species, often sharing similar traditional uses, have highlighted their potential in wound healing and antioxidant capacities, supporting their historical application in external injuries and detoxification. PMID: 30448408

Historical Notes on Tianpeng Grass

  1. "Illustrated Account of Plants and Their Names" (植物名实图考): “Tianpeng Grass is also known as Cool Hat Grass. It grows along riverbanks in Jianchang, spreading fine stems like tangled hair on the ground, with over a hundred stems forming a cluster. The stem tips bear two or three leaves, resembling small, newly emerged willow leaves. Its black root is as thick as a finger. People use it to wash swellings and toxic sores.”
  2. "Compendium of Materia Medica Supplement" (纲目拾遗): “Applied for hemorrhoids.”
  3. "Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine" (福建民间草药): “Dispels wind and disperses cold, induces perspiration to relieve exterior syndromes.”
  4. "Sichuan Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicine" (四川常用中草药): “Clears heat, detoxifies, and stops bleeding. Treats cough, hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleeds), boils, and other conditions.”

The traditional uses of Tianpeng Grass align with the broader pharmacological research on plants used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for conditions involving inflammation, pain, and bleeding, emphasizing a holistic approach to health. PMID: 34684534

3-Second Self-Assessment, 30-Second Self-Help!

If... you're experiencing early symptoms of a common cold, like body aches and a stuffy nose, or have minor skin irritation from a bug bite,

Then... (after consulting a qualified practitioner) a simple warm decoction of Tianpeng Grass might offer comfort, or a topical paste could immediately soothe the affected area. This ancient herb is traditionally used to address common discomforts, offering a quick and natural approach to wellness. Always seek professional advice for persistent or severe symptoms.

For informational purposes only. Please consult a qualified practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) before use.