Imperata – sources, health benefits, nutrients, uses and constituents at NaturalPedia.com
Saturday, September 02, 2017 by Rhonda Johansson
http://www.naturalpedia.com/imperata-sources-health-benefits-nutrients-uses-and-constituents-at-naturalpedia-com.html
Imperata is one of the more disturbing, but deliciously vibrant, plants you will read about. The grass is native to India, Australia, and Asia, particularly the cooler regions of Japan. The plant, when young, looks like a typical grass root. The leaves are yellow to white in color. However, when it matures and dies, it turns dark red, giving it the nickname “blood grass”. Philosophers among the ancient Japanese nobility used to call it the “red baron” and likened the life cycle of the imperata to one that is reflective of the internal struggle all humans face. Numerous haikus allude to the grass, although it would take a rather keen eye to determine what the poets actually meant.
Among the Chinese, imperata was less majestic and more cherished for its medicinal benefits. The deep red color, the healers said, was indicative of the plant’s use in treating blood conditions. Imperata was a “cold” plant and was used to absorb heat from the body. This made it a useful remedy for conditions such as edema, excessive thirst, febrile diseases, and dysuria, which is characterized by painful urination.
List of known nutrients
- Arundoin
- Citric Acid
- Cylindrin
Medicinal uses of imperata
Imperata is used to treat excessive bleeding. It is an effective styptic as well as an antibacterial agent. Most healers use it as part of a poultice and apply the salve on broken skin. The imperata serves the dual purpose of promoting wound healing as well as preventing the lesion from becoming infected.
Taken orally, imperata can be used to treat jaundice and various digestive disorders such as indigestion, diarrhea, and dysentery. Imperata is also prescribed among patients who have begun coughing or vomiting blood. While the grass does not treat the reason for the regurgitation, it can prevent the patient from losing too much blood. Imperata, therefore, is a great plant for people with anemia who are suffering from another blood-related condition, such as heavy menstrual bleeding.
Ancient texts refer to using imperata to cure irritability (most likely caused by blood loss), thirst, cough, wheezing, and nausea.
Body systems supported by imperata
Imperata ensures proper blood flow and function. As its appearance would suggest, the blood grass is used to treat conditions that may be caused by blood loss or by an excess of liquid in the body.
Ways to use imperata
If you’re planning on using the grass topically, take a few blades and char them until they are slightly burnt. Mix them with just enough water until they become a paste. Apply a thin layer of the concoction over the wound until it stops bleeding. Make sure to clean the wound beforehand.
If you plan on drinking it, herbalists recommend a dosage of around nine to 24 grams of dried imperata, or 60 grams if you are able to source it fresh. Imperata is normally taken with other herbs depending on the condition that you want to treat.
Where to learn more
Summary
Imperata, known as “blood grass”, treats various conditions related to the blood. It stops excessive bleeding and can be used to quell nausea.
Sources include:
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