The aerial parts of Sigesbeckia have been used\u00a0traditionally to treat rheumatic conditions such as arthritis, pain in the joints and muscles, sciatica, as well as to treat hypertension and some forms of paralysis. It has been used in the traditional medicines of many countries across the world and was first referenced in China in 659 AD. Its Chinese Pinyin name is\u00a0Xi Xian Cao<\/em>. \u00a0In traditional Chinese\u00a0medicine, Sigesbeckia is used to \u201cdispel wind-dampness and strengthening the sinews: for wind-heat-damp painful obstructions\u201d. \u00a0In Europe, the plant is commonly known as St Paul\u2019s Wort.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n Put into Western medical parlance, Sigesbeckia is prescribed in traditional medicine to relieve rheumatic conditions and improve the mobility of joints. When used traditionally, patients would be given the dried herb to brew into a decoction, either on its own or in combination with herbs such as\u00a0Prunella vulgaris<\/em>\u00a0(commonly known as heal-all) or\u00a0Clematis chinensis<\/em>\u00a0(Chinese Clematis), herbs that have complimentary activity. In China, Sigesbeckia was often\u00a0prescribed on its own as a large honey pill (Xi Xian Cao<\/em>). To make this honey pill, the dried Sigesbeckia plant was decocted twice with water, each time for two hours. \u00a0The decoctions (liquid extract) was then concentrated. \u00a0Further dried plant was then infused with rice wine and heated until the wine was completely absorbed. \u00a0The concentrated decoction and the wine infused material was dried, pulverized and mixed with honey to make large honey pills, with each honey pill weighing 20-30g and containing 9g of the Sigesbeckia extract.<\/p>\n In modern medicine, such production methods are very imprecise and there is risk of contamination, using the wrong plant, or using plant material of inferior grade. \u00a0In Europe, traditional herbal medicines are now regulated under the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Product Directive (Directive 2004\/24\/EC<\/a>) under which there are stringent quality and safety requirements that manufacturers must meet and maintain in order to gain a licence to sell the product. The traditional dosage forms are also not appropriate for the Western market and licenced Sigesbeckia medicines are available in tablet form, containing pharmaceutical grade Sigesbeckia extract.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Traditional honey pills<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/TCM-large-square.jpg\")
<\/div>\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/honey-pills-resized.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/phynova-joint-relief-tablets.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n