Achyranthes Root, an amazing herb for kidney stones

What is Achyranthes Root (Huai Niu Xi)?
It mainly refers to the root of Achyranthes bidentata Blume., a plant in the family Amaranthaceae. Hence, its common names include Achyranthis bidentatae radix, radix achyranthis bidentatae, achyranthes bidentata root, radix achyranthis, and so on. Medicinally it primarily comes from cultivation. The harvesting time is in winter when the plant is withered. After that, clean it with water, dry it in the sun, and use it raw or stir-fried with wine. It’s important to note that the root of Cyathula officinalis Kuan (Chuan Niu Xi) and Achyranthes aspera (Tu Niu Xi) is similar medicinally. But these three herbs are different and it needs to distinguish among them clinically.

Achyranthes plant is a perennial herb, 30 to 100cm long. Root is elongate, 0.6 to 1cm in diameter and with earthy yellow skin. Stems are erect, four-angled, striate, sparsely pubescent, and with slightly enlarged node and opposite branches on nodes. Leaves are opposite. Petioles are about 5 to 22mm. Leaf blade is elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 2 to 10cm long, 1 to 5cm wide, and with spiky apex, cuneate or broad cuneate base, entire margin, and both pubescent sides. Spica is axillary and apical. Inflorescence is short initially and packed with flowers but stretches later to about 15 to 20cm (including peduncle on the lower part). Utricle is oblong and smooth. Brown seed is 1 only in number. And its flowering period is from July to September and fruiting period is from September to October.

Achyranthes root benefits
This herb initially recorded in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic). It is widely cultivated outside of Northeast China and the best is produce in Wuzhi County, Jiaozuo city, Henan Province. It is characterized as stout, bright, and oily. As one of highly valued medicinal herbs, it has extensive medicinal uses and provides tons of health benefits. As a result, now it has been developed into achyranthes tea, extract, tablets, and so on. Li Shih-chen, the famous scholar and writer of the Bencao gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), ever commented that the nourishing power of Achyranthes root resembled the power of the bull. In terms of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), there is a popular belief that it is good at descending in medicinal properties. That’s to say, it has an extraordinary healing power that can guide the stones formed in the gallbladder, kidney, bladder, and urethra downward and thus discharge them out of the body.