The efficacy and function of shrimp beans

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 effects and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine shrimp beans.

[Other name] Licorice root (Guangxi Chinese Materia Medica).

[Source] The roots or leaves of the dried pinto beans of the legume family. The roots are dug in autumn and winter; the leaves are picked in summer and autumn, washed and dried.

[Original form] An upright shrub, up to 1 meter high. Young branches densely covered with rusty short hairs. Odd-pinnate compound leaves, alternate; leaflets lanceolate, elliptic or oblong, 5-12 cm long, 2-3.5 cm wide, apex caudate-acuminate, base cuneate, entire or slightly wavy, thick papery, glabrous; stipules linear, about 2 mm long. The racemes are axillary, 6-8 cm long, with nodes, and several flowers clustered on the nodes; bracts are lanceolate, about 2 mm long, with hairy edges; flowers are butterfly-shaped, purple-red, and the pedicel is about 3 mm long; calyx is shallowly bell-shaped, covered with short hairs, with 5 teeth at the apex; petals are clawed, the standard petal is broadly ovate, the wing petals are oblong, and the keel petal is slightly shorter than the wing petal; 10 stamens, 2 in number; 1 pistil, ovary linear, covered with short hairs, style incurved, stigma spherical. The pods are flat and dehiscent. The seeds are round, slightly flat, brown and shiny. Flowering period is from June to October. The fruiting period is from August to December.

[Habitat distribution] Growing on hillsides, wastelands and places with plenty of sunshine. Distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi and other places.

[Properties] The root is cylindrical, fleshy when fresh, with a yellow-brown surface, and a darker color when dry. The surface is uneven with sunken shallow longitudinal grooves, and the lenticels are arranged horizontally and appear as linear protrusions. It is hard, with an uneven cross section and granular texture. The cross section is light yellow and the rays are not obvious.

【Nature and flavor】 "Guangxi Chinese Materia Medica": "It tastes sweet and slightly spicy, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic."

【Functions and indications】 ① "Guangxi Chinese Materia Medica": "Root: dissipates blood stasis, reduces swelling, relieves pain, and calms the mind. Treats swelling and pain caused by falls."

[Usage and Dosage] For internal use: decoct in water, 5 to 8 qian; for external use: mash and apply.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

【Source】 From "Guangxi Chinese Materia Medica"

The above is some basic information about shrimp beans. I hope you can learn more about Chinese herbal medicine, which will be beneficial to you.