Carpesium is a perennial plant of the compositae family. It is grown from southern Europe to eastern Asia, particularly China, Japan and Korea.
Carpesium grows to about one meter in height, usually in land that has most soil, with little or no shade. The seeds are used medicinally.Carpesium seeds are small (3-4 millimeters in length) and yellow-brown or dark brown in color, with ridges along the edges. The seeds have a mild odor, and are bitter and pungent in flavor. Carpesium seeds are used to kill intestinal parasites such as roundworms or pinworms, and to treat abdominal pain caused by enteritis or malnutrition.
Other parts of the plant are used for different purposes. The entire plant can be ground up and used as a laxative or to induce vomiting, while carpesium juice (taken from the plant's stems) can treat sore throat and insect bites.
The standard dosage of carpesium is 3-10 grams, which should be prepared in a decoction for oral administration. Some herbalists recommend it be ground into a powder and combined with soup when being administered. It is sometimes used in conjunction with betel nuts to enhance its anti-parisitic effects.
In addition to raw or dried seeds, carpesium can be found in pill and powder form.
As of this writing, there are no known adverse effects or drug interactions with carpesium. As always, make sure to consult with a qualified health care practitioner before taking carpesium or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.
References
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