Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
假败酱 / 玉龙鞭 / 大麻鞭 / 倒扣草 — Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl (syn. Verbena jamaicensis)
Pinyin: Jiǎ Bàijiàng / Yùlóngbiān · Malay: Selasih Dandi / Pecut Kuda / Kupang Hutan · Family: Verbenaceae (马鞭草科)
Energetics
Cool to Cold (寒 / 凉)
Flavor
Bitter, bland, slightly astringent (苦、淡、涩)
Meridians
Liver (肝), Kidney (肾), Large Intestine (大肠), Urinary Bladder (膀胱)
Traditional Edict
Jade Dragon Whip. Elongated spike resembling a horse whip. Clears toxic heat, cools blood, unblocks strangury, and flushes uric acid. Renowned as Ubat Gout for acute joint inflammation.
Cautions & Contraindications
- Potent uricosuric; ensure adequate water intake during gout therapy to prevent renal stone precipitation. Contraindicated in pregnancy and cold diarrhea.
Clinical Applications
- Hyperuricemic gouty arthritis (xanthine oxidase inhibition and renal urate flush), acute cystitis, Stage 1 essential hypertension, acute pharyngitis, and dysentery.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Ipolamiide and tarpetin competitively inhibit hepatic xanthine oxidase, lowering serum uric acid while verbascoside blocks URAT1 for renal uricosuric excretion. 2. Phenylethanoids downregulate IL-1b in gouty synovial joints. 3. Endothelial vasorelaxation.
Preparation & Dosage
Whole dried herb in decoction: 15-30 g daily. Fresh crushed leaf poultice for gouty joint flares and boils: 30-50 g. Standardized extract: 250-500 mg twice daily.
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Nanyang Gout & Uric Acid Clearance Synergy with Orthosiphon stamineus (Misai Kucing) and Pandanus amaryllifolius. 2. Acute Cystitis Strangury Tea with Plantago asiatica.
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only