Ma Chi Xian - Portulaca oleracea

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Ma Chi Xian
 
 Latin
Herba Portulacae
 Introduction Back to Top
Herba Portulacae is the dried aerial part of Portulaca oleracea L. (Fam. Portulacaceae). The drug is collected in summer and autumn, removed from remains of roots and foreign matter, washed clean, steamed briefly or treated with boiling water, and then dried in the sun.
 Western medical Back to Top
ma chi xian is used to treat dysentery, hepatitis, appendicitis, urinary tract infections, acne and boils, etc..
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Clears Heat, removes Toxin, cools Blood, stops bleeding.
  • Properties: Sour, Cold.
  • Channels entered: Large Intestine, Liver and Spleen.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
ma chi xian contains noradrenalin, various sylvite, various organic acids, various amino acids, etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Anti-bacterial effect

ma chi xian had inhibitory effect on shigella dysenteriae, bacillus coli, tubercle bacillus, staphylococcus aureus and various pathogenic dermatomyces.

Excitatory effect on uterus

Extract fluid of ma chi xian had significant excitatory effect on the isolated uteri of guinea pigs, rats and rabbits, and in vivo uterus of dogs.

Inhibitory effect on the heart and small intestine

ma chi xian decoction had inhitiory effect on isolated frog hearts and small intestine of guinea pigs.

 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Bacillary dysentery

ma chi xian could prevent and treat bacillary dysentery. It had an effective rate of over 90% on acute dysentery and around 60% on chronic cases.

Acne in young people

ma chi xian, dan shen, 30g each; huang qin, zhi zi, chi shao, dang gui, ku shen, 15g, fu ling fen, 15g; and honey of proper amount. 118 cases were cured, 11 effective and 3 ineffective.

Ulcerative rectitis

bai ji 20g, ma chi xian 30g, bai jiang cao 24g, hu huang lian 15g, mu xiang 9g and ying su ke 9g were decocted into 400ml juice for retention enema. 17 were cured, 9 markedly effective and 2 ineffective.

Acute appendicitis

Dried ma chi xian, pu gong ying, 60g each, water decoction. 31 cases of acute appendicitis were treated and 30 were cured.

Urinary tract infections

ma chi xian 200~250g and brown sugar 150g were decocted into 400ml juice, tid. 53 cases of acute urinary tract infections were treated, and all were cured.

Viral hepatitis

Fresh ma chi xian 50g (or dried one 10g), water deccotion. 95 cases of viral hepatitis were treated, and 84 cases of viral hepatitis were cured; among 11 persistent hepatits, 6 clinically cured, 3 improved and 2 ineffective.
 
 References Back to Top

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998