Erigeron Breviscapus (Dengzhan Xixin)

Dengzhan Xixin灯盏细辛, a traditional Chinese medicine, refers to the dried whole herb of the Compositae family plant Erigeron breviscapus. It is harvested in the summer and autumn seasons, with impurities removed and then sun-dried. The herb has a pungent, slightly bitter taste and is warm in nature. It targets the heart and liver meridians. Dengzhan Xixin is known for promoting blood circulation, unblocking channels, relieving pain, dispelling wind, and dispersing cold. It is commonly used for treating conditions such as stroke-induced hemiplegia, chest pain due to heart disease, rheumatic pain, headache, and toothache.

During the extensive promotion of Chinese herbal medicine in the last century, an elderly Miao Chinese medicine practitioner in his 90s from Qiubei County, Wenshan, shared a remedy: using Dengzhanhua (the flower of Dengzhan Xixin) boiled with eggs to treat cerebral hemiplegia. Clinical trials conducted by the Provincial Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and other organizations confirmed that extracts from this plant are highly effective in treating cerebral hemiplegia, coronary heart disease, cerebral thrombosis, cerebral hemorrhage, and cerebral embolism. Since then, this small flower has gradually gained prominence in Yunnan Province’s pharmaceutical industry.

The earliest systematic research on Dengzhan Xixin began at the Yunnan Provincial Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, initially focusing on studies related to Dengzhanhua extract and scutellarin (a flavonoid compound found in the herb). With the growing popularity of products such as “Dengzhanhua Injection,” “Hua Tuo Zao Wan,” “Scutellarin Tablets,” and “Yimai Kang Tablets,” research and development on Dengzhan Xixin have seen a surge in interest. Dengzhan Xixin is highly effective, has a long history of use, and enjoys a strong social foundation, with minimal side effects, making it well-liked by users. It has now been listed as a key Chinese herbal medicine for national development and an essential emergency medication in traditional Chinese medicine for treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Pharmacological References:

  • “Dian Nan Ben Cao”: Dengzhan Xixin is commonly used for treating injuries, with effects of dispersing cold, reducing inflammation, and relieving pain.
  • “Guangxi Pharmacopoeia”: It is used to treat head sores in children.
  • “Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine”: It has effects of dispersing cold, strengthening the spleen, eliminating stagnation, reducing inflammation, and relieving pain.
  • “Selected Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicines”: It disperses cold, relieves the exterior, stops pain, promotes blood circulation, and activates muscles. It is used to treat toothache, acute gastritis, high fever, traumatic injuries, rheumatic pain, chest pain, malaria, post-polio syndrome, paralysis caused by encephalitis, and schistosomiasis.

The Guardian of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Health—Dengzhan Xixin

Dengzhan Xixin contains complex chemical components and has a wide range of pharmacological effects, exhibiting characteristics of multi-component, multi-target, and holistic regulation in its therapeutic actions. The components responsible for its cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective effects are primarily flavonoids like scutellarin, which work through mechanisms such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet aggregation, vasodilation, and neuron protection. Clinically, it is widely used for ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and has shown good efficacy in treating viral myocarditis, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and hypertension.

Research by Lin et al. found that scutellarin can protect against acute myocardial infarction and focal cerebral ischemia caused by cardio-cerebral ischemia, reducing the infarct size in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, scutellarin can inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis, reduce oxidative stress, and protect against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Subarachnoid hemorrhage complicated by cerebral vasospasm is a major cause of death and disability, and scutellarin can reduce mortality and disability rates by mitigating vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage. Therefore, as the “guardian” of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health, Dengzhan Xixin has significant advantages in preventing the development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Yunzhi Refined Medicinal Slices – Dengzhan Xixin

1. Basic Information

  • Product Name: Dengzhan Xixin – The Guardian of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Health
  • Specification: 10g per bag
  • Origin: Hainan
  • Properties: Pungent, slightly bitter; Warm in nature; Targets the heart and liver meridians
  • Effects: Activates blood circulation, unblocks channels, relieves pain, dispels wind, and disperses cold
  • Indications: Used for stroke-induced hemiplegia, chest pain due to heart disease, rheumatic pain, headache, and toothache
  • Usage and Dosage: Oral intake of 9-15g; External use as needed
  • Manufacturer: Guangdong Yunzhi Traditional Chinese Medicine Slices Co., Ltd.

2. Application and Promotion

Neurology – Ischemic Stroke

  • Dengzhan Xixin injection can alleviate vascular spasms in the ischemic area, improve collateral circulation, reduce brain tissue damage, and lower disability rates. The total flavonoids in Dengzhan Xixin can prevent glucose-induced circulatory congestion by increasing cerebral blood flow and reducing vascular resistance.

Internal Medicine – Coronary Heart Disease and Angina

  • The cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective components of Dengzhan Xixin are primarily flavonoids such as scutellarin. These components act through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet aggregation, vasodilation, and neuron-protective mechanisms.

Cardiology – Viral Myocarditis

  • Scutellarin injection combined with phosphocreatine can reduce inflammation and myocardial damage. Dengzhan Xixin injection combined with Myocardial Protection Granules is used to treat viral myocarditis.

3. Manufacturer Information

Guangdong Yunzhi Traditional Chinese Medicine Slices Co., Ltd.

  • Overview: Part of Zhongzhi Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, stock code 03737.HK), established in November 2019 in Yunfu City. The company invested 350 million RMB in the project, covering 200 acres.
  • Focus: Specializes in the production of small-packaged traditional Chinese medicine slices, refined slices, and the research and development of new types of traditional Chinese medicine slices (such as decoction slices). The company aims to become a leading platform for the development, production, and testing of high-quality traditional Chinese medicine slices in Guangdong Province.

Botanical Characteristics

  • Type: Perennial herb, 5-50 cm tall.
  • Root: Thick, woody, with numerous fibrous roots.
  • Stem: Erect, with a few branching umbels, covered with short, hard hairs or glandular hairs.
  • Leaves: Basal leaves form a rosette, spoon-shaped or lanceolate, 1.5-11 cm long, 0.5-2.5 cm wide, with blunt tips and small pointed apices; stem leaves are few, often 2-4, long oval or lanceolate, 1-4 cm long, 0.5-1 cm wide, semi-enveloping the stem at the base, and without petioles.
  • Habitat: Grows in mountainous areas, under sparse forests, in grasslands, or on sunny slopes.

Production Method

  • Preparation: Remove soil, bundle into small bunches, dry in the shade, or properly oven-dry.

Properties

  • Taste: Pungent, slightly bitter; Warm.
  • Meridians: Targets the heart and liver meridians.
  • Effects: Activates blood circulation, unblocks channels, relieves pain, dispels wind, and disperses cold.
  • Indications: Stroke-induced hemiplegia, chest pain due to heart disease, rheumatic pain, headache, and toothache.
  • Usage and Dosage: 9-15g, either decocted or powdered and used with eggs. For external use, apply as needed.

Relevant Literature

  1. “Guangxi Medicinal Plant Directory”: “Used for treating head sores in children.”
  2. “Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine”: “Disperses cold, strengthens the spleen, eliminates stagnation, reduces inflammation, and relieves pain.”
  3. “Selected Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicines”: “Disperses cold, relieves the exterior, stops pain, promotes blood circulation, and activates muscles. Treats toothache, acute gastritis, high fever, traumatic injuries, rheumatic pain, chest pain, malaria, post-polio syndrome, paralysis due to encephalitis, and schistosomiasis.”