Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
粟米草 / 铺地锦 / 五叶粟米草 / 地锦草 — Mollugo pentaphylla L. (syn. Mollugo stricta L.)
Pinyin: Sùmǐcǎo / Pūdìjǐn · Malay: Rumput Sisik Angin / Rumput Bunga Jarum / Tapak Burung · Family: Molluginaceae (粟米草科 / 石竹科)
Energetics
Cool (微寒 / 凉)
Flavor
Bitter, sweet, bland (苦、甘、淡)
Meridians
Liver (肝), Spleen (脾), Stomach (胃)
Traditional Edict
Five-Leaved Carpetweed (Rumput Sisik Angin / Su Mi Cao). Delicate whorled-leaf prostrate herb with tiny white cymes. Clears acute icteric viral hepatitis jaundice (Tui Huang), stimulates digestive appetite, expels summer-heat rash, stops eczema itch.
Cautions & Contraindications
- Wash wild creeping plants thoroughly to remove soil debris. High safety profile. Contraindicated in cold deficiency watery diarrhea without heat signs.
Clinical Applications
- Acute icteric viral hepatitis (normalizing serum ALT/AST and bilirubin), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), summer-heat fever with anorexia, pediatric heat rash, and atopic pruritus.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Mollugogenol triterpene saponins protect hepatocyte microsomal membranes against oxidative lipid peroxidation and upregulate BSEP biliary bilirubin transport. 2. Vitexin downregulates IL-4 and mast cell histamine release. 3. Spleen-awakening.
Preparation & Dosage
THE SOVEREIGN CARPETWEED JAUNDICE CLEARANCE DRAUGHT: 30 g dried Mollugo pentaphylla whole herb boiled with Phyllanthus niruri (Dukung Anak) in 600 mL water for 20 min; taken warm twice daily for jaundice. Topical antipruritic wash: 50 g boiled in 1 L water.
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Hepatitis Jaundice Clearance Synergy with Phyllanthus niruri (Dukung Anak) and Curcuma aromatica (Yu Jin). 2. Pediatric Summer Heat Rash Wash with Mentha haplocalyx.
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only