The efficacy and function of water star anise

As a traditional Chinese medicine, water star anise has great medicinal value and can treat many diseases. Let’s take a closer look at it below.

[Other names] Flower Cock, A Mouth of Blood, Liquidambar Asarum (Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica), Split-Leaf Begonia, Tiger Claw Dragon, Water Coptis chinensis, Water Centipede, Unable to be Blown Away by the Wind (Jiangxi Herbal Medicine).

[Source] It is the rhizome of Begonia palmatum, a plant of the Begoniaceae family. Harvested from September to October.

[Original form] Perennial herb, 25 to 30 cm high. It has a red, thick, multi-noded rhizome with fibrous roots. The leaves are protruding from the base, usually in 2 pieces; the leaf blade is nearly round, cordate at the base, deeply palmately lobed, with 5 to 7 lobes, deeply notched, sparsely covered with short spines on both the upper and lower surfaces, the tip is long and gradually pointed, and the edges have serrations of varying thickness, 13 to 15 cm in total length and 16 to 18 cm in width; the petiole is 12 to 20 cm long and covered with sparse short hairs; the stipules are membranous, ovate, and obtuse at the tip. The flowers are red, 5 to 6 in number, in a 2-branched cyme, monoecious, with a rachis 18 to 20 cm long, smooth and hairless, and a pedicel 1.5 to 2.5 cm long; male flowers often bloom first, with 4 perianths, 2 inside and 2 outside, and many stamens; female flowers have 5 perianths, with two-forked styles, thick and wrinkled stigmas, hairy, 3 to 4 cm long, and a smooth ovary with 3 wings of varying sizes, the largest wing is triangular, the smaller wings are narrow and long, and have 2 chambers. Capsule, split dorsally, with many seeds. Flowering period: summer and autumn.

[Habitat distribution] It grows on shady and moist slopes, ditches or canyons in low mountain areas. Distributed in Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei and other places.

【Nature and flavor】 Sour, flat.

【Functions and indications】 Dispel wind, promote blood circulation, promote diuresis and detoxify. Treat rheumatic joint pain, edema, hematuria, bruises, and snake bites.

[Usage and Dosage] For internal use: decoct in water, 3-4 qian (1-2 liang for fresh); or stew with meat.

[Additional prescription] ① For the treatment of acute arthritis: 50 cents of Begonia root, decocted in water and wine; if the joint pain is severe, use an appropriate amount of fresh Begonia root and a little wine lees, mash it and apply externally.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Classification of Herbal Properties".

The above is an introduction to the Chinese medicinal material water star anise. For medicinal herbs that we don't understand, we should learn more about them so that we can make full use of them in our lives and not be at a loss.