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Celosia, Qing Xiang Zi 青箱子

Wild Cockscomb, Feather Cockscomb
SEED:
–Qing Xiang Zi  青箱子 (TCM)
–Sitivaraka (Ayurveda)
–Pannaikeerai (Siddha)
–Tukhm-e-Sarwali (Unani)
FLOWER:
–Ji Guan Hua  鸡冠花 (TCM)
–Jatadhari (Ayurveda)
C. argentea (as C. cristata)
Basilius Bessler, Hortus Eystettensis, vol. 3: Secundus ordo collectarum plantarum autumnalium (1620)

Celosia argentea 
E. Step, D. Bois, Favourite flowers of garden and greenhouse, vol. 3 (1896-1897)

Celosia argentea var. cristata
(Photo by Lumaca) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:
1. Celosia argentea (syn. C. cristata, C. coccinea, Amaranthus cristata)
2. Celosia argentea var. cristata (source of the flower)

The Chinese Pharmacopoeia lists C. cristata as a source of the flower, and C. argentea as a source of the Seed.
Plantlist lists C. cristata as a synonym of C. argentea. Despite this, flower forms are obviously different. The flower
type as shown in the second picture above is the flower type used in TCM.

Parts used:
Seed; Flower

Temperature & Taste:
Cool, moist. Bitter, Sweet

Classifications:
B. Clear Strong Heat or Fire

Uses:
SEED:
1. Clears Wind Heat, Benefits the Eyes: (TCM, Ayurveda)
-red, painful, swollen eyes from Wind-Heat or Liver heat; Conjunctivitis
-superficial visual obstruction, Cataract
-Wind-heat affecting ears; loss of hearing, tinnitus
-itching of the skin from Wind-Heat (TCM)
-Fever (API)

2. Clears Liver Heat:
-Headache, red face, irritability, dizziness
-Hypertension
-also for Heat in the Blood

3. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Dysuria, Urinary obstruction, cloudy urine
-strongly promotes urine (tincture)
-Stones (API)
-Spermatorrhea from Damp-Heat
-Diarrhea, Spleen enlargement

4. Externally:
-inflammations of the mouth (gargle)
-hemorrhoids
-leaf paste is applied to itching skin
-whole plant as a paste to Fractures


FLOWERS:
1. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding: (TCM, Ayurveda)
-excess Menstrual bleeding; Uterine bleeding
-Vomiting Blood, Blood in the Stool
-bleeding hemorrhoids
-the flower is usually charred to stop bleeding in TCM

2. Astringes to Stop Leakage: (TCM, Ayurveda)
-Leukorrhea
-Chronic Diarrhea and Dysentery, with or without Blood
-has also been used for Diabetes
-flower juice is taken with honey for piles


DOSE:
SEED:
3–15 grams in Decoction
2–6 grams in Powder
FLOWER:
Powdered flowers with wine are taken before meals for profuse menstruation.
6–12 grams in Decoction
2–4 grams in Powder

COMMENT:
The leaves are eaten as a vegetable, sometimes referred to as Red Spinach. In India it is regarded as one of the 5 sacred vegetables.

PREPARATION:
Charred Celosia Flower:
The flower is cut into pieces and stir-fried in a dry wok until it is charred to blackish. This is stronger to stop bleeding.

Main Combinations:
SEED:
1. Sore, red Eyes:
i. Sore, red, tearing eyes from Wind-Heat, Celosia seed with Chrysanthemum Ju Hua
ii. Red eyes and dizziness from Liver heat, Celosia seed with Cassis seed (Jue Ming Zi)
iii. chronic red, sore and inflamed eyes from Liver heat, Celosia seed with Chrysanthemum Ju Hua and Gentian (Long Dan Cao)
iv. poor vision, Celosia seed with Lycium Gou Qi Zi (Goji berry)
2. Cataract, Celosia seed with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan with Lycium Gou Qi Zi and Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi)
3. Spermatorrhea from Damp-Heat, Celosia seed with seeds of Hygrophila auriculata
FLOWER:
1. Menorrhagia and Leukorrhea from deficiency, Celosia flower with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Paeonia Bai Shao, Oyster shell (Mu Li)

Major Formulas:
An Kun Zan Yu Pills (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
Qian Jin Zhi Dai Pills (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)

Cautions:
1. Not used in dilated pupils or Galucoma
2. Not used in Liver and Kidney deficiency

Main Preparations used: