Urinary infection, eczema treated with TCM knotweed

What is knotweed(Bian Xu)? Known as one of prostrate plants in the family of polygonum, knotweed is a close relative of Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum, Fallopia japonica) and He Shou Wu (Polygonum Multiflorum, Radix Polygoni Multiflori). For this reason, the name of Chinese knotweed can be pretty confusing. But in most cases, it refers to He Shou Wu rather than Bian Xu. These two Chinese herbs draw a stark contrast between, Heshouwu is so popular while knotweed unnoticed.

Medicinally it refers to the above-ground part of herbherba polygoni avicularis, which is one of annual weeds, grown mostly along roadsides in countryside. It has small pink or white flowers at internodes in early summer and fruits in fall. Knotweed shoots can be used medicinally. Stems are cylinder-shaped and slightly flat, with branches, 15 to 40cm long, and 0.2 to 0.3cm in diameter. Surface is grayish green or brownish red, with fine dense protuberant longitudinal grain. Nodes are slightly inflated, with light brown membranous ocrea, and about 3cm in length of internode. Texture is hard, easily broken, with white medulla seen in cross section. Leaves alternate, long and narrow like bamboo leaves, subsessile or shortly stipitate, deciduous or shrinking, broken, lanceolate after expansion in complete one, integrifolious, brown green or grayish green on both sides. It is odorless and slight bitter in taste. It is produced in all provinces in China.

What is it used for?
It is viewed differently from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Property, uses and indications
It is considered bitter and slightly cold in nature and covers meridians of urinary bladder. Thanks for the unique properties of cold descending and cold drying, this medical herb is used frequently for urinary infection and Eczema clinically. Based on that, here are the main uses and indications.

(1). Promote diuresis to free strangury – damp-heat strangury, including ruinary tract infection, urinary calculus, and blood in urine, etc.;
(2). Destroy parasites to relieve itching – parasitic diseases like pinworm internally and skin conditions like sores, rash, and pruritus externally.

Usual dosage is 9 to 15 grams, in decoction.