About Achyranthes bidentata var. longifolia Makino
Achyranthes bidentata Blume, whose English common name is ox knee, is known in Chinese as 牛膝 (niu xi). It is a species of flowering plant that belongs to the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. This plant grows 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, the root juice of this plant is used to treat toothache. Its seeds have served as a substitute for cereal grains during years of famine. In Mizoram, India, the plant is used externally to treat leech bites, while 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 extract 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 to treat conditions including osteoporosis and arthritis, and is known for its anti-inflammatory effects.
