The efficacy and function of stone money

In modern life, everyone is very familiar with various Chinese herbal medicines, among which Scutellaria baicalensis is a very common one. So what are the effects and functions of Scutellaria baicalensis? Let’s take a look.

【Alias】 Stone Toad

[Source] Medicinal material source: It is the thallus of the plant Gastrodia elata of the Tuberaceae family (Gastrodia elata).

[Original morphology] The thallus is flat, dichotomously branched and lamellar, 1-4 cm long, 3-7 mm wide, with a heart-shaped tip, dark green on the back, purple-red on the edges and ventral surface, and numerous adventitious roots along the mid-rib groove. Stomata are simple, convex, with 6-9 cells around the pores in 4-5 rows. There are several layers of air chambers and no nutritional fibers. The scales are arranged in a shingle-like manner, with one row on each side, purple-red, and half-moon shaped. Monoecious. The male stipe is disc-shaped, sessile, and grows in the middle of the thallus. The female receptacle is borne at the tip of the frond, with a petiole 1-2 cm long, a hemispherical apex, green, and 4-lobed, each with 2 bracts on the ventral side. The sporangium is spherical and black; the spores are yellow-brown with a reticulate surface and a diameter of 60-90μm. The elastic wire is about 400μm long.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows on stone walls and soil slopes.

[Chemical composition] Contains R -(-)-8,11-dihydro-α-cuparenone, gymnomitr-8(12)-en-9α-ol, R -(-)-α-cuparenone, 6α,22-hopanediol, 8β-hydroxygymnomitrian-9-one, 8(12)-en-9-one, stigmasterol, apigenin-7,4′-dimethylether.

【Nature and flavor】 Light; astringent; cool

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies; reduces swelling and stops bleeding. Mainly used for sores, boils, swellings and poisons; burns and scalds; swelling and pain caused by falls; bleeding caused by trauma

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 12-15g. For external use: take appropriate amount, grind into powder and apply; or mash and apply.

[Additional prescription] 1. To treat sores, boils and swellings, mix fresh ramie root or pumpkin pulp with it, mash it and apply it on the affected area.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

In order to let more friends know about Lithospermum officinale, you can introduce it to more friends around you so that more people will know how to use this medicine.