Achyranthes bidentata
Achyranthes bidentata Blume
Achyranthes bidentata Blume (English common name: ox knee, Chinese: 牛膝 niu xi) is a species of flowering plant in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae.
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Achyranthes bidentata flowerAchyranthes bidentata
Achyranthes bidentata
Achyranthes bidentata
Achyranthes bidentata
Achyranthes bidentata
Achyranthes bidentataAchyranthes bidentata flowerAchyranthes bidentataOverview
Achyranthes bidentata Blume (English common name: ox knee, Chinese: 牛膝 niu xi) is a species of flowering plant in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. It occurs 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 its root juice is used for toothache. Its seeds have been used as a substitute for cereal grains in famine years. The plant is used externally in the treatment of leech bites in Mizoram, India and a decoction as a diuretic.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
During the Chinese Liang Dynasty, Achyranthes bidentata was used for its abortion effectiveness. Chinese folk doctors would take the juices of crushed up A. bidentata and insert them into the vagina to induce abortion. This abortive technique was common among folk medicine practitioners in southern China during the Republican period.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
Achyranthes bidentata is now used for other things such as osteoperosis and arthritis, and known for its anti-inflammatory effects.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productSeed & germination
The plant is propagated mainly by **seed**: sow fresh or pre-treated seed in loose, moist soil and keep it evenly damp; germination follows within a few weeks.
Seedling & growth
Seedlings establish, forming leaves and roots; growth rate depends on light and moisture.
Flowering
The plant blooms with **small green flowers, July–September**; pollination is by insects and wind.
Fruiting & harvest
After flowering the plant sets fruit and seed; **two-year-old roots dug in autumn–winter**.
Uses
- It is the source of the Chinese herbal medicine Huai'niuxi (Chinese: 怀牛膝; pinyin: Huái'niúxī).
- In Nepal its root juice is used for toothache.
- Its seeds have been used as a substitute for cereal grains in famine years.
- The plant is used externally in the treatment of leech bites in Mizoram, India and a decoction as a diuretic.
- During the Chinese Liang Dynasty, Achyranthes bidentata was used for its abortion effectiveness.
- This abortive technique was common among folk medicine practitioners in southern China during the Republican period.
Habitat & conservation
Ngưu tất, hoài ngưu tất, cỏ xước hai răng, cỏ sướt hai răng (danh pháp hai phần: Achyranthes bidentata) là một loài thực vật thuộc họ Dền, được trồng ở Ấn Độ, Nepal, Trung Quốc, Nhật Bản và Việt Nam.
Conservation
Achyranthes bidentata has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List (NE). As a medicinal plant, it benefits from sustainable collection and propagation to protect wild genetic resources.
References
- 1Wikipedia – Achyranthes bidentata — Wikipedia,
- 2Kew POWO – Achyranthes bidentata — Plants of the World Online (Kew),
- 3Wikidata – Q1151611 — Wikidata,