The efficacy and function of Zanthoxylum bungeanum

Zanthoxylum bungeanum is a very common medicinal material in life. It is widely used and you can choose it with confidence. Let’s take a look at it together.

[Other names] Three hundred thorns, wild pepper, blood-seeing flying, snake chief

[Source] Medicinal material source: the root bark, bark or fruit of the Rutaceae plant Zanthoxylum bungeanum.

[Original form] Tree, up to 15m high. The pith of the current year's branches is very small and not hollow, and there are fewer thorns on the branches. Twigs, leaf axes and inflorescence axes are often covered with short soft hairs. Odd-pinnate compound leaves are alternate, thick and papery; rachis is rounded, ventral surface slightly pubescent; petiolules are 1-3mm long; leaflets are 7-13, lanceolate, 5-8cm long, 1-3cm wide, with long acuminate tip, obtuse and slightly concave, base rounded and slightly unequal, margin with shallow serrations, dark green and shiny above, light green and glabrous below, midrib and lateral veins sunken and convex below, densely covered with transparent oil spots. The corymb panicle is terminal, 10-15cm long, with spreading branches and short soft hairs; the bracts are small; there are 5 sepals, about 0.5mm long; there are 5 petals, white, oblong, 1-1.5mm long; there is often a large and transparent glandular dot on the top of the sepals and petals; the male flower has 5 stamens, about twice as long as the petals, the filaments are linear, the anthers are broadly elliptical, there is a darker glandular dot on the top of the connective, and the degenerate carpels are short; the sepals of the female flower are tightly closed and not open, there are 3 carpels, the style is short, and the stigma is capitate. The follicles are red, with 1-3 mature carpels and tiny glandular dots on the surface of the mericarps. The seeds are ovoid, about 4mm in diameter, black and shiny. The flowering period is July-August, and the fruiting period is September-October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in relatively moist places in hillside forests above 1200m above sea level.

【Nature and flavor】 Pungent; bitter; warm

【Functions and indications】Warms the middle, promotes qi circulation and relieves pain. Mainly used for cold pain and distension in the heart and abdomen; abdominal pain caused by roundworms

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 2-3g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

I believe that friends who were not very clear about Zanthoxylum bungeanum at the beginning should now have mastered the relevant knowledge about Zanthoxylum bungeanum. I hope this article can be helpful to you.