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Alternanthera, Matsyakshi

Matsyakshi (Ayurveda)
Ponnangani (Siddha)
Machechi, Panachooni (Unani)
Xia Qiao Cai, Man Ti Xian, Lian Zi Cao (TCM)
Dictionnaire des sciences naturelles, Plates Botanique,
Turpin, 1816-1830
Flore d’Oware et de Benin en Afrique,
Palisot de Beauvois, 1804-1807
Botanical name:
Alternanthera sessilis
(syn. A. triandra, A. denticulata, A. repens, A. achyranthoides; Achyranthes sessilis, A. triandra, A. villosa; there are many other synonyms for this plant including Gomphrena polygonoides, Illecebrum indicum, Steiremis sessilifolia, Illecebrum spp., Paronychia spp.)

Parts used:
Whole plant

Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. slightly Sweet, bland.

Uses:
1. Nourishes Yin, Strengthens the Brain (Ayurveda):
-promotes Memory, increases Intelligence
-promotes development of children
-sex and fertility tonic
-Postpartum weakness

2. Clears Heat, Cools the Blood:
-skin diseases; blood toxicity (TCM, Ayurveda)
-Nose-bleeding, spitting Blood, blood in the Stool (TCM)
-acute Sore Throat; Pharyngitis
-Measles, Hemorrhagic Fever
-Icteric Hepatitis; Toxic Hepatitis (Ayurveda)
-Diarrhea, Dysentery (TCM)

3. Clears Heat and Damp, Resolves Swellings (TCM):
-Urethritis (TCM)

4. Promotes Milk

5. Externally:
-improves complexion
-Toothache (topically, TCM)
-draws out pus in toxic Sores, Boils (TCM)
-stops Itching; Dermatitis, Eczema, as a wash
-topically applied to Viper Bite (TCM)


Dose:
It is eaten as a potherb in parts of China and elsewhere.
Powder: 2–6 grams;
Decoction: 15–30 grams dry (30–100 grams fresh)
Topically, is can be applied as a paste or poultice, or a concentrated decoction can be used as a wash.

Comment:
Ayurvedic uses focus on the herbs tonic capacity, especially to promote intelligence and childhood development. TCM focuses on the herbs heat-clearing capabilities for which it is also used in Ayurveda.

Main Combinations:
1. Promote Intellect Alternanthera with Convolvulus Shankhapushpi and Gold Bhasma (ashes). (Ayurveda, Sushruta)
2. Jaundice, Alternanthera with Lysimachia Jin Qian Cao
3. Enteritis from Damp, Alternanthera with Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi.)

Cautions:
None noted

Main Preparations used: