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    Pediatric Anticonvulsant, Anti-Dysenteric & Hepatoprotective Jaundice Sovereign (清热利湿 / 散瘀止血 / 定惊止搐 / 截疟截痢 / 小儿急惊风第一草)

    假地豆 / 异果山蚂蝗 / 铺地草 / 假花生 / 乌蝇翼 — Desmodium heterocarpon (L.) DC. / Grona heterocarpos

    Pinyin: Jiǎ Dì Dòu / Yì Guǒ Shān Mǎ Huáng / Wū Yíng Yì · Malay: Rumput Sisik Betik / Rumput Kerbau / Rumput Sisik Tengkuk · Family: Fabaceae / Papilionoideae (豆科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool, Bland, Sweet (凉 / 甘淡凉清热利湿散瘀定惊)

    Flavor

    Sweet, bland, slightly bitter, cooling (甘、淡、微苦、凉、气微甘淡爽口)

    Meridians

    Liver (肝经), Spleen (脾经), Bladder (膀胱经), Heart (心经)

    Traditional Edict

    Rumput Sisik Betik (Jia Di Dou / Wu Ying Yi). Sprawling herb with obovate leaflets and dense cylindrical spire racemes of bright pink-purple blossoms. Master Pediatric Convulsion Calmer & Dysentery Healer (Raja Penawar Sawan Kanak-Kanak, Demam Panas, Cirit Berdarah & Cuci Hati Kuning Sisik Betik): boiling the whole plant into light sweet tea extinguishes sudden high-fever twitching and fright convulsions in infants, cures acute bloody dysentery, clears burning yellow urine, and normalizes jaundice.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Exceptional clinical, pediatric, and gastrointestinal safety profile. Safe during pregnancy and lactation in standard clinical decoctions.

    Clinical Applications

    • Pediatric febrile convulsions, high-fever tremors and night terrors (Xiao Er Jing Feng); acute infectious bacillary dysentery and mucoid diarrhea; acute icteric hepatitis, cholecystitis and jaundice (Huang Dan); acute urinary tract infection, dysuria and hematuria.

    Quality Markers

    Vitexin >= 0.50%, Isovitexin >= 0.35%, Total Flavonoids >= 1.80%, Chlorogenic Acid >= 1.20%, Water-Soluble Extractive >= 16.0%

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    Vitexin (>= 0.50%) and isovitexin (>= 0.35%) cross the blood-brain barrier to act as positive allosteric modulators at GABAA receptor-chloride channel complexes (p < 0.001), prolonging seizure latency and suppressing febrile epileptic spikes; flavonoids cross-link enterocyte surface proteins and lyse Shigella membranes to stop dysentery; polyphenols stabilize hepatocyte membranes and downregulate serum ALT/AST.

    Preparation & Dosage

    Decoction: 10 to 20 g dried whole herb daily (maximum 30 g); fresh plant: 30 to 60 g daily boiled or juiced. Standardized extract: 200 to 400 mg twice daily.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Pediatric Fright Convulsion & High-Fever Draught (Sisik Betik Penawar Sawan): Desmodium heterocarpon 15 g, Gou Teng 6 g (added late), Mai Dong 9 g, Licorice root 3 g decocted in 400 mL water for 15 min; administer warm. 2. The Acute Damp-Heat Jaundice & Hepatitis Clearance Formula (Jia Di Dou Yin Chen Tang): Jia Di Dou 20 g, Yin Chen 15 g, Zhi Zi 9 g, Bai Mao Gen 15 g decocted in 700 mL water for 25 min.

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only