The efficacy and function of small flowered maple

The small-flowered star-shaped maple is a very good medicinal material. It is often used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients. It has extremely high medicinal value. Let us learn about several aspects of the small-flowered star-shaped maple.

[Other names] Jiuniuzao, false octagonal maple, narrow-leaved octagonal maple, triangular maple

[Source] Medicinal material source: the roots and leaves of Acer scabra, a plant of the Acer scabra family.

[Original form] Deciduous shrub, 1-4m high. The bark is smooth, gray-brown or dark brown; the twigs are slender, nearly cylindrical, light green or lavender, with appressed hairs when young, and nearly glabrous later. Leaves are alternate; petiole 1-1.5cm long, rarely up to 2.5cm, nearly cylindrical, sparsely covered with light yellow coarse procumbent hairs; leaf blade papery, undivided or palmately 3-lobed, undivided ones oblong or lanceolate, apex acuminate or caudate-acuminate, base inclined, nearly round or cordate, usually 7-12cm long, rarely up to 19cm, 2.5-3.5cm wide, green above, covered with sparse small stiff hairs when young, denser above veins, light green below, covered with coarse procumbent hairs when young, and almost glabrous later; main vein and lateral veins are prominent below. The cyme is short and slender, 2-2.5cm long, with light yellow coarse profuse hairs, with 5-10 flowers, rarely up to 20; the bracts are triangular and fall off early; the calyx is nearly bell-shaped, with coarse profuse hairs on the outside, and 7 lobes; the petals are 5-6, linear, with coarse profuse hairs closely attached on the outside, sparsely pubescent on the inside, and curled outwards when blooming; the stamens are 5-6, nearly as long as the petals, the filaments are slightly flattened, fused with the petals at the bottom, the apex is broad and flat, with long soft hairs, the rest are glabrous, and the anthers have spiny stiff hairs at the base; the disk is nearly spherical; the ovary has 1 chamber, the style is glabrous, and the stigma is nearly spherical. The drupe is nearly oval or ovate-elliptical, up to 1 cm long, lavender when ripe, with persistent calyx teeth at the tip. The flowering period is June and the fruiting period is September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in sparse forests below 1600m above sea level.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; bitter; slightly warm

【Meridian】 Liver and stomach meridians

【Functions and indications】 Dispel wind and dampness; promote blood circulation and relieve pain. Mainly used for rheumatic pain, stomach pain, and traumatic injuries

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 6-15g. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application; or grind it into powder and apply.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the above introduction, I found that the small-flowered eight-angle maple has so many pharmacological effects, and it also has good effects on some diseases. In fact, there may be many "treasures" around our lives, but most of the time we don’t have a heart that is good at discovering them.