About Achyranthes bidentata Blume
Achyranthes bidentata Blume is a species of flowering plant belonging to the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. Its English common name is ox knee, and its Chinese name is 牛膝 (niu xi). This plant is found in India, Nepal, Korea, China, and Japan. It is the source of the Chinese herbal medicine Huai'niuxi (Chinese: 怀牛膝; pinyin: Huái'niúxī). In Nepal, juice extracted from its root is used to treat toothache. Its seeds have been used as a substitute for cereal grains during years of famine. In Mizoram, India, the plant is used externally to treat leech bites, and a decoction made from it is used as a diuretic. During China's Liang Dynasty, Achyranthes bidentata was used for its ability to induce abortion. Chinese folk doctors would collect juice from crushed Achyranthes bidentata and insert it into the vagina to trigger abortion. This abortion method was common among folk medicine practitioners in southern China during the Republican period. Today, Achyranthes bidentata is used for other purposes, including the treatment of osteoporosis and arthritis, and is known for its anti-inflammatory effects.
