Simmering Prunella (Xiakucao) into Paste Treats Lymph Nodules, Breast Nodules, Thyroid Nodules, Hypertension, and More

Prunella (Xiakucao, Selfheal spike) is a very common Chinese medicine. Its actions are to clear liver heat, dissipate nodules, promote urination, and lower blood pressure. It can be used to treat scrofula (lymph-node tuberculosis), thyroid nodules, mammary hyperplasia, and also eye pain, photophobia and tearing, dizziness and vertigo, facial deviation, sinew and bone pain, pulmonary tuberculosis, acute icteric infectious hepatitis, and metrorrhagia and leukorrhea in women. Prunella is even commonly used in treating various cancers such as breast cancer and lymphoma. Applied externally, prunella can treat tinea versicolor (white spots): simply decoct prunella and wash the affected area.

Prunella may be simmered into a paste for oral use. The Qing-dynasty "Yizong Jinjian" (Golden Mirror of Medicine) records the preparation method and actions of Xiakucao Gao (Prunella Paste). Patent Prunella Paste is also sold on the market; if you do not want to buy the patent preparation, you can make it yourself. The method: take an appropriate amount of prunella, add water and decoct three times, two hours each time; combine the decoctions, filter, and concentrate the filtrate into a clear extract with a relative density of 1.21–1.25 (at 80–85°C). To every 100 g of clear extract add 200 g of refined honey or 200 g of sucrose; heat to dissolve, mix well, and concentrate to the specified relative density. This yields Xiakucao Gao. Take twice a day, 9 g each time.

Of course, if the patient is robust and does not mind bitterness, prunella may also be simply brewed as a tea, with rock sugar or honey added to taste; the daily dose ranges from 10 to 100 g. In the Guangdong region, prunella is commonly used as the main ingredient in herbal cooling teas; prunella cooling tea has a good heat-clearing, fire-purging action.

When taking Prunella Paste or prunella tea, note that those with a cold stomach should not take prunella in large amounts or for long periods. If skin allergy or similar reactions appear after taking prunella, do not continue. Prunella should also not be taken during the common cold or during menstruation.