Shuihonghuazi (Prince's-Feather Fruit) Ointment Used Internally and Externally for Ascites and Hepatosplenomegaly
Shuihonghuazi is the fruit of Polygonum orientale (Prince's-feather), a plant of the genus Polygonum in the knotweed family. When the fruit spikes ripen from August to October each year, they are harvested, sun-dried, and the fruits threshed and cleaned of impurities before being used medicinally. The fruits should be crushed before use so that their medicinal effects are better released.
Shuihonghuazi is also known by such names as Shuihongzi, Hongcaoshi, Heliaozi, Chuanliaozi, Baohuazi, and Shuixiehua. Polygonum orientale is widely distributed across China, including the Northeast, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Anhui, Shandong, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Gansu. Because Shuihonghuazi is not a commonly used Chinese medicinal, most TCM pharmacies do not stock it, though online herbal suppliers sell it. One may also forage the herb oneself, sun-dry it, thresh and clean it, and then use it medicinally.
Taken internally, Shuihonghuazi activates blood and dissipates accumulations, clears heat and drains dampness. It is used for abdominal accumulations and concretions, water tympanites (ascites), stomach pain, abdominal distension, wasting-thirst (xiaoke), red eyes, sores and swellings, and scrofulous lymph nodes. Shuihonghuazi also has anticancer and detumescent effects and is used for hepatosplenomegaly; among Professor Zhao Shaoqin's case records there is a successful case of gastric cancer with liver metastasis treated with Shuihonghuazi. It has particular efficacy for eye diseases: the Pin Hui Jing Yao records that it "brightens the eyes and dissolves sores-toxicity," and the Bencao Bielu records that it "mainly treats wasting-thirst, removes heat, brightens the eyes, and boosts qi." Modern practitioners use it for conjunctivitis with effect.
Yet of all the effects recorded in ancient bencao, Shuihonghuazi's greatest reputation is for reducing swelling. The Bao Shou Tang Jingyan Fang records: "For abdominal concretions and accumulations, take one bowl of either Polygonum orientale herb or its fruit, add three bowls of water, and decoct over strong then gentle fire into an ointment; spread the ointment according to the size of the mass and apply as a plaster, and also take the ointment mixed with wine; avoid meat, fish and greasy food." The Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) quotes this recipe and names it "Shuihonghua Gao" (Prince's-feather Ointment), saying it dissipates accumulations and scatters concretions and treats abdominal masses. In addition, the Bencao Yanyi records Shuihonghuazi: "For scrofulous lymph nodes, including ulcerated ones, take an unspecified amount of Shuihonghuazi, stir-fry half and leave the other half raw, grind together into powder, mix two qian with good wine, and take three times daily, once after meals and once at bedtime."
Modern practitioners have found that Shuihonghuazi has a certain effect on chronic hepatitis and cirrhotic ascites. Boil 1000 g of Shuihonghuazi into an ointment; take one tablespoonful twice daily, washed down with boiling water, while simultaneously spreading the ointment on cloth and applying it externally to the affected area. This approach can treat ascites caused by cirrhosis or liver cancer, relieving symptoms and improving the patient's quality of life.