The efficacy and function of rock radish

In daily life, people are not only very familiar with various foods, but also come into contact with a lot of medicines in daily life. Among them, rock radish is a relatively common Chinese medicinal material. Given that there are still many people who don’t know much about rock radish, let’s take a detailed look at it below.

【English Name】 Henry Urophysa

【Alias】 Rock butterfly

[Source] Medicinal material source: the rhizomes and leaves of the Ranunculaceae plant Urocaria rhynchophylla.

[Original form] Urocellus, perennial herb. The rhizome is thick, 1.5-2.5cm in diameter, gray-brown or tan, with many remaining leaf sheaths, which become scaly after falling off. Leaves are numerous, basal, with petioles 3.6-12cm long; leaf blades are broadly ovate, 1.4-2.2cm long, 3-4.5cm wide, cordate at base, middle lobes fan-shaped obovate or fan-shaped rhombus, 3-lobed at upper part, both sparsely pubescent. The scape is up to 15cm high, usually with 3 flowers arranged in a cyme; bracts cuneate-obovate, undivided or 3-lobed; bracteoles are linear, opposite or nearly opposite; flower diameter is 2-2.5cm, sepals are 5, sky blue or pink-white, obovate-elliptic; petals are 5, oblong-boat-shaped, saccate at the base; stamens are numerous, the reduced stamens are membranous, narrowly lanceolate; carpels are 5-8, and are pubescent with coarse hairs. Lettuce fruit is ovate, sac-like, with persistent long style. The seeds are narrowly reniform, densely covered with small wart-like protrusions. Flowering period is March-April.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows beside mountain rocks or on steep cliffs.

[Properties] Identification of properties: the rhizome is cylindrical, with a diameter of about 9mm. The surface is brown, with holes of varying sizes and dense segments; the top has residual petiole residues and a hollow stem base. It is light, brittle, easy to break, and has an irregular flaky cross section. It has a faint smell and tastes spicy and slightly bitter.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet; slightly bitter; neutral

【Functions and indications】Promote blood circulation and dissipate blood stasis; promote tissue regeneration and stop bleeding. Mainly used for bruises, swelling, pain, traumatic bleeding, and frostbite

【Usage and Dosage】 For external use: take appropriate amount, grind into powder and apply on the affected area.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": Treats bruises and swellings.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

It can be seen that the medicinal value of rock radish is still very obvious. However, not everyone can use rock radish. We can judge based on our own physical condition.