Learn About Chinese Herbs -Fu Ping (Herba Spirodelae)-
Fu Ping (Herba Spirodelae)
This product is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. "Shennong's Materia Medica" has it listed as medium grade. Formerly known as Shuiping.
Aliases: waterweed, purple-backed duckweed, green duckweed.
Source: Spirodela Polyrhiza (L.) Schleid and duckweed Lemna minor L. Dried whole grass with roots. Wild.
Origin: Produced in ponds and marshes all over the country.
Trait identification
Zi Ping: The phyllodes are round, 3~6mm in diameter, and many single or 2~3 pieces are together. The surface is gray-green, the back is brown-green to purple-brown, there is a small depression on the surface side, there are 3~6 fibrous roots on the back, the root is 1~2cm long, (most of them have fallen off), the quality is soft and fragile. The smell is slight and salty.
Fu Ping: (green-backed duckweed), phyllodes, green on both sides. Single root.
It is better to have a purple back and no soil impurities. But the two are often mixed together.
Main ingredients: mainly contains masenin, vitexin, linolenic acid, etc.
Pharmacological effects: sweating, dispelling wind, water, the principle is:
（1） Antipyretic: Animal experiments have confirmed that its decoction and infusion have a weak antipyretic effect.
（2） Diuretic: The active ingredients are potassium acetate and potassium chloride.
Taste: pungent and cold.
Meridian: into the lungs and bladder meridians.
Function: release external, dilution of water and swelling.
Used to Treat: cold and fever, impermeable rash, swollen skin, unfavorable urination.
Clinical application
Mainly used for releasing the rash. Measles is hidden, or the rash is not exiting, fever with no sweating, and when no other comorbidities are present the herb can be used. It can be taken internally or used externally as a wash. It should not be used by those who are sweaty and weak. It can also be used for urticaria to relieve itching.
Dosage: Internal... 3~6g of dry products, 9~18g of fresh products. Topical... can be varied amount.
Prescription example: Fu Ping 6g, water decoction as tea, drink several times a day.
Note: The Fu Ping used in Guangdong and Guangxi is a floating herbaceous Araceae algae. It is different from the Fu Ping used in most parts of the country and is easy to distinguish.
Case study: snake bite
Patient: Mr. Chen, male, 66 years old
Symptom: Patient’s right hand was bitten by a poisonous snake on July 12, 2019. The patient was admitted to a hospital (Nanzhang Hospital of Chinese Medicine), then transferred to the intensive care unit of Xiangyang Central Hospital on July 14. He was again transferred to Nanzhang County People's Hospital on the afternoon of July 17. He was discharged on July 29. At the time of discharge, his right hand was swollen with a quarter sized wound. At home, he took oral medicine, plus medicinal hand wash and external ointment. As of August 29, the wound was still not healed. It was red and swollen, with pus oozing out.
8/29/2019 Dr. Wu’s prescription
1 . TCM formula: 皂角刺 (zao jiao ci) 10g, 黄芪(huang qi) 60g, 陈皮 (chen pi) 10g，连翘 (lian qiao) 10g，升麻 (sheng ma) 10g，党参 (dang shen) 10g，甘草 (gan cao) 5g，当归 (dang gui) 10g，柴胡 (chai hu) 15g，五指毛桃 (wu zhi mao tao) 30g，桂枝 (gui zhi) 10g。Drink the concoction once a day for 5 days.
2. moxibustion treatment on the wound for 20 min a day.
10 days later, the patient’s wound was almost completely healed.
Before treatment:
After treatment:
Healing process:
Disclaimer: All above articles are for reference only. If patients are interested, please consult a professional practitioner Traditional Chinese Medicine for a consultation.