6 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



The use of this drug is said to benefit respiration, to in- 

 vigorate the skin and muscular system, to brighten the eye, to 

 promote intelligence, and if taken for a long time to prevent 

 hunger and tissue waste. It is prescribed for dyspepsia and 

 dyspeptic constipation. 



ACHRYANTHES BIDRNTATA.— ^ JJI (Niu-hsi), 903. 

 This is an Amarantaceous plant, with greenish-purple stems, 

 having large joints resembling the knee of an ox, whence the 

 Chinese name (ox-knee). The product sold under this name 

 in the Chinese drug shops is not always of this species ; other 

 products of the same or allied genera being included : as 

 Achryanthes aspcra^ Amarantus^ and Cyathiila. Tatarinov has 

 wrongly identified this as Pupalia^ in which error he was 

 followed by Porter Smith. 



The product of the shops varies considerably in appearance, 

 as might be expected from the number of different species of 

 plant used. The best quality, which comes from Huaiching- 

 fu in Honan, occurs in straight flexible roots of the size of a 

 small quill, wrinkled longitudinally, and of a brownish yellow 

 color. The taste is bitterish and somewhat acrid. This is 

 probably the true "ox-knee". Another specimen of the root 

 is of a bark brown or yellowish color, twisted, knotted, 

 irregular, light and open in structure, with fibrous rootlets 

 attached, of a dirty-white color in the interior, and with very 

 little flavor. A coarser variety, known as )\\ ^ jj^ (Ch'uan- 

 niu-hsi), 2452, differs in no material respect, excepting size, 

 from the last. One ancient observer says that the plant with 

 the large purple joints is the staminate one, while that with 

 small green joints is pistillate. The former is the best for 

 medical purposes. The stalk and leaves are also used in 

 medicine, being regarded as having virtues similar to those of 

 the root. The shoots of all of the different varieties are edible. 

 Anti-rheumatic and anodyne properties are among the chief 

 ones ascribed to this drug. It is also said to be of use in ague, 

 fever, urinary difficulties, puerperal and cutaneous diseases. 

 So persistently is it recommended in labor and puerperal 

 conditions, that it might well be worth while to investigate its 

 virtues in this respect. The stems and leaves are especially 



