What is Ox-Knee Root or Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae?

Applications and Properties:

Applications:

Blood circulation and detumescence.
Down direction herb guider.
Scarce and difficult disease.
Pupal abduction and Prompt ecdysis.
Control blood sugar.
Prompt protein synthesis.
Treat amenorrhea (abnormal absence or suppression of menses), dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation).
Treat lumbago due to deficiency of kidneys, debility of the waist and knees due to long obstruction of qi there.
Treat strangury, edema, dysuria (difficult or painful discharge of urine).
Treat syndromes due to flaring-up of fire or heat and hyperactivity of fire due to yin-deficiency.

Properties:

Promotes blood circulation to regulate menstruation, nourishes the liver and kidneys, strengthens bones and muscles, induces diuresis to cure strangury (a painful discharge of urine, drop by drop) and conducts fire (blood) downward.
Dosage:6-15 g. Decoct this herb for oral administration.

Safety and Toxicity:

Toxicity:Inokosterone.LD50,Lethal dose,Intraperitoneal injection.mouse.7.8 grams/kg. Toxicity:Ecdysterone.LD50,Lethal dose,Intraperitoneal injection.male mouse.6.4 grams/kg.LD50,Lethal dose,Oral.male mouse.>9 grams/kg.
Research suggests that ox-knee root can cause dilation of the cervix and so this herb should not be used by pregnant women or anyone with menorrhagia.It should also be avoided by anyone suffering from spermatorrhea due to deficiency of the kidneys or anyone with loose stools due to deficiency of the spleen.