Polygonum Hydropiper ⁽²⁾

The Chinese medicine Shuihonghua is the seed of Polygonum orientale (red knotweed, Polygonaceae); red knotweed is also called wild pepper, and both its seeds and leaves have a pungent taste. Shuihonghua seeds were used as medicine by the ancient Chinese very early on. TCM holds…

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.