Family

Alismataceae

Genus

Alisma

Common Name

Asian water plantain

Plant Figure

Description

Alisma orientale is a perennial aquatic or marsh herb belonging to the Alisma genus and Alismataceae family. The tuber has been used as Chinese materia medica for approximately two thousand years, and it is named Zexie in China and Taku sha in Japanese. A. orientale was first recorded in an herbal monograph Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, which was written during the Han dynasty, and it was classified as a top-grade herb due to its low toxicity. On basis of the Compendium of Materia Medica, could be used to eliminate oedema, as a diuretic, and to reduce fevers.