Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
五色苋 / 锦绣苋 / 红田乌同属 / 变色苋 / 红叶草 / 花叶苋 — Alternanthera bettzickiana (Regel) G.Nicholson (syn. Alternanthera ficoidea var. bettzickiana)
Pinyin: Wǔsèxiàn / Jǐnxiùxiàn / Biànsèxiàn · Malay: Bayam Merah Mini / Keremak Merah Mini / Kekwa Merah / Bayam Hias / Calico Plant · Family: Amaranthaceae (苋科 / 莲子草属)
Energetics
Cool (微寒 / 甘淡微酸凉)
Flavor
Sweet, bland, slightly sour, refreshing (甘、淡、微酸、凉)
Meridians
Liver (肝), Heart (心), Large Intestine (大肠), Spleen (脾)
Traditional Edict
Calico Plant / Five-Colored Amaranth (Bayam Merah Mini / Wu Se Xian). Compact bushy herb with brilliant crimson-purple variegated leaves. Sister Sovereign to Hong Tian Wu: cools blood-heat, unblocks coronary microcirculation, clears bloody dysentery, and stanches bleeding cuts.
Cautions & Contraindications
- Full sunlight enhances active crimson betacyanin synthesis. High nutritional, culinary, and pediatric safety profile. Safe in lactation; safe for culinary consumption in pregnancy.
Clinical Applications
- Microvascular circulation impairment and coronary stasis, acute bacillary dysentery and bloody enteritis (enterocyte mucosal protection via Betacyanins and Rutin), and bleeding cuts.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Betanin and betacyanins scavenge vascular endothelial free radicals, stimulating eNOS nitric oxide release to dilate microvessels. 2. Flavonoids tighten capillary walls to halt bleeding.
Preparation & Dosage
THE SOVEREIGN BAYAM MERAH MINI MICROVASCULAR TEA: 15 to 30 g dried (or 50 g fresh) whole herb boiled with Danshen (10 g) in 500 mL water for 20 min; taken warm twice daily for cardiovascular microcirculation. Fresh poultice: 30 g pounded leaves on cuts.
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Microvascular Clearance Duo with Salvia miltiorrhiza (Dan Shen). 2. Blood-Cooling Dysentery Draught with Portulaca oleracea (Ma Chi Xian).
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only