Mirror Grass, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the whole plant of Pileapeperomioides Diels [Podophyllum cavaleriei Lévl.], a member of the Urticaceae family. It is native to Yunnan and is also cultivated in Beijing, Nanjing, and Guizhou. It has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, removing blood stasis, and reducing swelling. It is commonly used to treat erysipelas and fractures.
Mirror Grass
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Mirror Grass, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the whole plant of Pileapeperomioides Diels [Podophyllum cavaleriei Lévl.], a member of the Urticaceae family. It is native to Yunnan and is also cultivated in Beijing, Nanjing, and Guizhou. It has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, removing blood stasis, and reducing swelling. It is commonly used to treat erysipelas and fractures.
Chinese Name : 镜面草
Aliases : Cuipingcao, Elephant Ear Grass, Rock Golden Flower, Purple Evergreen, Mirror-Leaf, Trauma Powder
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Slightly bitter and pungent in taste; cold in nature
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Clears heat and detoxifies; eliminates phlegm and reduces swelling.
Indications
Used for erysipelas and fractures.
Usage and Dosage
Internal use: Decoct 6–9 g. External use: Apply an appropriate amount after pounding into a paste.
Precautions
Not suitable for those with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold.
Relevant Discussions
*Illustrated Compendium of Plant Names and Realities*: “It can treat erysipelas.”
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Can be harvested year-round; wash thoroughly and use fresh or sun-dry.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
A plant of the Urticaceae family, known as Mirror-leaf Herb.
Morphological Characteristics
A robust, fleshy, perennial herb, approximately 20 cm tall (up to 65 cm when cultivated).The entire plant is glabrous, with very densely spaced nodes; the upper part is densely covered with persistent, scale-like stipules that are brown in color. Leaves are arranged spirally; petioles are 3–14 cm long; stipules are triangular-ovate to triangular-lanceolate, 5–13 mm long and 7–10 mm wide, with a short, tail-like, acuminate apex; they are membranous, translucent, grayish-white when young, and gradually turn dark brown;The leaf blade is shield-shaped, fleshy, broadly elliptic to subcircular, approximately 4–7 cm long and wide, with a bluntly rounded apex and a nearly circular base; the margin is entire; the upper surface is dark green and glossy, while the lower surface is pale green; there are 8–10 palmate veins, which are fairly prominent on both surfaces.Flowers are small, unisexual, and monoecious; panicles; male inflorescences approximately 22 cm long, with flowers clustered along the rachis; peduncles up to 11 cm long; bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate; perianth tube 4-lobed;4 stamens; 3 unequal perianth lobes in the female flowers, 6–7 mm long, navicular, with no vestigial stamens; ovary flattened-ellipsoid-ovoid, oblique, stigma sessile, brush-like. Achenes ovate, slightly flattened, oblique, with fine purplish-red wart-like projections on the surface. Flowering period: April–July; fruiting period: July–September.
Distribution Area
Native to Yunnan; also cultivated in Beijing, Nanjing, and Guizhou.
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Terminology Proofreading: [Cheng Bo] | August 2, 2026 Reviewed by: [Wang Zhongxiang, Associate Chief TCM Physician (China)] | August 2, 2026
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