The efficacy and function of cornus officinalis

Recently, major TV channels have launched various health programs, and food programs have also introduced special health-preserving dietary therapy methods. All aspects show that the concept of health preservation is gradually deepening in people's understanding. Now we will introduce a health-preserving medicinal material, Cornus officinalis.

[Other names] Yuejiao (Guangya), Dangzi (Bencao Shiyi), Aizi (Bencao Tujing), Lazi (Compendium of Materia Medica).

[Source] It is the fruit of the Zanthoxylum bungeanum plant of the Rutaceae family. The fruits are harvested when they are ripe in October and November and dried in the sun.

[Original form] Deciduous tree, up to 15 meters high. The trunk often has sharp thorns with a circular protruding base. The bark is gray-brown or gray-black, and the pith of young branches is often hollow. The leaves are odd-pinnate compound leaves, 25 to 60 cm long, the longest can reach 1 meter, the petiole is 6 to 12 cm long, and the base is swollen; the leaflets are 11 to 27, opposite, papery or thick papery, ovate-oblong or oblong-quadrangular, 8 to 13 cm long, 2.5 to 4 cm wide, gradually pointed or caudal at the apex, rounded and slightly oblique at the base, with shallow rounded serrations on the margins, transparent glandular dots at the crevices, and grayish-white powdery frosty underneath. The flowers are unisexual, borne in terminal umbel panicles, with numerous small flowers, light green or white, with short pedicels and small pointed ovate bracts at the base; 5 sepals, broadly ovate, small; 5 petals, oblong, about 2.5 mm long; male flowers have 5 stamens, linear filaments, broadly elliptical anthers, a transparent glandular dot at the top of the connective, and a very short reduced ovary; female flowers have a short style, a capitate stigma, and a slightly spherical ovary consisting of 5 carpels. The follicle is formed by 2 to 3 mature carpels, the top of the fruit valve has a very short beak, and the skin is red. The seeds are broadly oval and approximately half-moon shaped, brown-black and shiny. Flowering period is from July to August. The fruiting period is from October to November.

[Habitat distribution] It grows in sparse woods on hillsides or in open areas, as well as in relatively moist places near mountain streams. It likes fertile soil and is distributed in the southeastern part of my country.

[Chemical composition] Both seeds and peels contain isosaxifen.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter, warm, poisonous.

【Functions and indications】Warming the middle, drying dampness, killing insects and relieving pain. It is used to treat cold pain in the heart and abdomen, cold drinks, diarrhea, cold dysentery, dampness, leucorrhea, and toothache.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 0.5 to 1 qian; or made into pills or powder. For external use: mash and apply or decoct in water for washing.

【Note】 Those with Yin deficiency and excess fire should not take this medicine.

[Additional prescription] ① To treat spleen diarrhea: Wrap two cardamom seeds in rice vinegar and flour, simmer in ashes until yellow and scorched, mix with flour and grind into powder, and add one or two grams of roasted olive powder. Also, fry Chencang rice and grind it into powder. Use two cents of it to boil and make a drink. Add three cents of the previous two ingredients and take it once in the morning and once in the evening. (Nutmeg recipe from Puji Fang)

【Discussions by various scholars】 Ben Jing Feng Yuan: "Evodia rutaecarpa and Evodia rutaecarpa have similar properties and flavors, and their functions are similar, but the text of Ben Jing has always been mistakenly placed in the article on Cornus officinalis. It is used to treat cold and heat in the lower part of the heart, which is what Meng Shen said about treating cold pain in the heart and abdomen; it warms the middle and removes cold and dampness, which is what Zhong Na and removes coldness in the internal organs... Although it is a common food, it is spicy and fragrant to help yang and can eliminate the stagnation of turbid yin. How can Cornus officinalis have the same functions as Evodia rutaecarpa? It is used to treat leucorrhea, cold dysentery, warm the stomach and dry dampness, and edema caused by water vapor. Its functions are similar to Evodia rutaecarpa but less powerful."

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

The above content is an introduction to the traditional Chinese medicine Cornus officinalis. We should learn more about Cornus officinalis in our daily lives so that we can use it more reasonably and better realize its value.