The efficacy and function of Tudaxiang

With the development of society and the close international exchanges, most people who study medicine have been seriously influenced by Western medicine, and fewer and fewer people are studying Chinese medicine, which has resulted in less and less understanding of Chinese medicine. Let’s talk about the efficacy and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine Tudaxiang.

[Other name] Yunnan fennel

[Source] Medicinal material source: The ripe fruit or leaves of Illicium verum L. of the Illicium family.

[Original form] Evergreen small tree or shrub, up to 10m tall. The young branches are slightly ridged and light brown. There is often a terminal bud, with bud scales arranged in a shingle-like manner and usually falling off early. Leaves are leathery, alternate or nearly opposite, rarely in clusters of 3-5; leaf blades are oblong-elliptic to lanceolate, 5-10cm long, 1.5-3cm wide, with short acuminate apex, base gradually narrowed into a cuneate shape, midrib concave above and raised below. The flowers are borne in the axils of branches and leaves, are green-yellow or light yellow, with extremely short pedicels, 2-8mm long; there are 18-23 tepals, the largest of which is membranous, oblong-lanceolate to tongue-shaped, 9-15mm long and 2-4mm wide; there are 16-28 stamens; there are 8-13 carpels, and the style is subulate. Follicles 8-13, 1.1-2cm long, 6-9mm wide, with a long pointed tip, often curved. Seeds gray-brown. The flowering period is May and the fruit ripening period is September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in moist valleys, stream valleys, mixed woods and roadsides at an altitude of 1300-4000m, and there are also small patches of pure forests.

[Chemical composition] The fruit contains anisatin, shikimic acid, 2-oxo-6-deoxy-neoanisatin. The fruit contains about 1% volatile oil, the main component of which is limonene, accounting for 73.42%. It also contains 46 ingredients including α-pinene, cam-phene, α-phellandrene, etc.

[Toxicity] The fruit contains shikimotoxin, and the LD50 of intraperitoneal injection in mice is 0.76±0.06mg/kg. The fruit contains a new sesquiterpene lactone named 2-oxo-6-deoxyneoshikimotoxin, and the LD50 of intraperitoneal injection in mice is 0.94±0.07mg/kg.

【Nature and flavor】 Pungent; hot; highly toxic

【Functions and indications】 Promotes tissue regeneration and kills insects. Mainly used for long-term ulcers and scabies

【Usage and Dosage】 For external use: take appropriate amount, grind into powder and apply on the affected area; or decoct in water for washing.

【Note】 Do not take internally.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Nowadays, people's life pressure is constantly increasing, which makes our bodies often in a state of fatigue. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Tudaxiang has a certain regulating effect on the body. I hope it will be helpful to everyone.