Is Shujincao the same as Shenjincao?

Shujincao and Shenjincao are two common herbal plants in daily life. The shapes and medicinal properties of the two are comparable, and their appearances are also similar. However, there are some differences between Shujincao and Shenjincao. Generally, the leaves of Shenjincao are more curved and do not have a strong smell, while the leaves of Shujincao are cylindrical and have some smell.

Is the muscle-stretching grass the same as the muscle-stretching grass?

Shujincao, the correct name is: Lithospermum officinale, also known as stone vine, stone vine and lycopodii, etc. It is a large native plant belonging to the Lycopodales, Lycopodiaceae. The main stem above ground is woody and vine-like, extending and climbing up to several meters, cylindrical, with leaves spirally arranged, adnate, ovate-lanceolate to subulate, harvested in summer and autumn, used fresh or sun-dried. It grows under forests, on forest edges, under thickets or along ditches at altitudes of 100-3100 meters, and is mostly distributed in most provinces and regions of East China, South China, Central China and Southwest China.

The creeping stem of the plant is thin and cylindrical, slightly curved, up to 2 meters long and 1 to 3 mm in diameter, with yellow-white fine roots underneath. The erect stem is dichotomously branched. The leaves are densely grown on the stem, spirally arranged, wrinkled and curved, linear or needle-shaped, 3 to 5 mm long, yellow-green to light yellow-brown, glabrous, awn-shaped at the tip, entire, and easily broken. The texture is soft, the bark is light yellow in cross section, and the wood is off-white. Odorless, light taste.

1. Shape

Echinops strychnifolia: a large native plant. The underground stems are long and creeping. The main stem above ground is woody and vine-like, extending and climbing for several meters, cylindrical, about 2 mm in diameter, with sparse leaves; the leaves are spirally arranged, adnate, ovate-lanceolate to subulate, 1.5-3.0 mm long, about 0.5 mm wide, with a prominent base, arcuate, sessile, acuminate at the apex, with 1 membranous, 2-5 mm long awn or awn falling off. The sterile branches are soft, yellow-green, cylindrical, with a width of about 4 mm between branches and leaves, and multiple unequal dichotomous branches; the leaves are spirally arranged, but the leaf base is twisted to make the branchlets flat, dense, oblique, awl-shaped, upward curved, 2-3 mm long, about 0.5 mm wide, base decurrent, sessile, gradually pointed at the apex, with long awns, entire margins, arcuate back, grooved abdomen, dull, midrib unclear, and herbaceous.

Stretching grass: long-leaved cowtail perennial herb, climbing. The stem is slender, with longitudinal stripes and no prickles. Leaves are alternate; ovate, oblong-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 6-9 cm long, 2.8-6.5 cm wide, acuminate or cusp at apex, cuneate or nearly rounded base, smooth and glabrous on both sides; petiole base with 2 tendrils. Flowers are unisexual and dioecious; inflorescence is umbel-shaped and axillary; perianth has 6 lobes, free and reflexed outwards; male flowers have 6 stamens, which are shorter than the perianth lobes; female flowers are smaller than male flowers, with linear-shaped reduced stamens, spherical ovary and 3-lobed stigma. The berries are spherical and black. Flowering period is June.

2. Functions and indications

Shujincao: dispels wind and dampness; relaxes muscles and promotes blood circulation; improves eyesight; detoxifies. It is mainly used to treat rheumatic pain, lumbar muscle strain, trauma, irregular menstruation in women, night sweats, conjunctivitis, night blindness, burns from water or fire, sores and swelling, anti-inflammatory and dehumidifying, and exogenous fever in children.

Stretching tendon grass: wind-cold-dampness arthralgia, limb weakness and numbness; traumatic injuries; treat joint pain.