About Achyranthes bidentata var. japonica Miq.
Achyranthes bidentata Blume, with the English common name ox knee (Chinese: 牛膝 niú xī), is a species of flowering plant belonging to the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. It grows naturally in India, Nepal, Korea, China, and Japan. It is the source of the Chinese herbal medicine Huái'niúxī (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 the Chinese 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 induce abortion. This abortive practice was common among folk medicine practitioners in southern China during the Republican period. Today, Achyranthes bidentata is used for conditions including osteoporosis and arthritis, and is known for its anti-inflammatory effects.
