The efficacy and function of hemp grass root

After thousands of years of sedimentation and accumulation, the types and quantities of Chinese medicine have become quite astonishing. Therefore, choosing Chinese medicine to treat some difficult and complicated diseases always has a very good effect. Next, I would like to recommend a Chinese medicine - sphenanthera root.

[Source] It is the root of Veratrum vulgaris, a plant of the Liliaceae family. Harvested in autumn and winter.

[Original form] Perennial herb, about 1 meter high. The rhizome is short and thick, covered with multiple layers of brown, bark-like fibers. The fibrous roots are cylindrical, yellowish white and slightly thick. The leaves are mostly basal, oblong-lanceolate, about 30 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, with sharp tips and gradually narrowed bases, more or less clasping the stems. The panicle is terminal, with few branches, and the rachis is densely gray-brown pubescent; the flowers are green-white, with 6 tepals. The capsule is triangular-ovate, about 1.5 cm long and 3-lobed. Seeds numerous, yellowish brown. Flowering period is autumn.

[Habitat distribution] It grows in moist and fertile places under hillside grasslands, bushes or sparse woods. Distributed in Yunnan, Guizhou and other places.

[Pharmacological action] The root extract of the Yunnan-produced hemp grass (unidentified species) has analgesic effect when injected subcutaneously in mice; the analgesic rate of the alkaloid part is lower than that of morphine, but higher than that of codeine. In rabbits (corneal reflex analgesia), the potency of biotin (pentyl alcohol extract) is comparable to that of morphine and stronger than that of corydalis alkaloids. The glycosides contained in it have certain cardiotonic effects on isolated toad hearts.

[Properties and flavors] "Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine": "numbing, bitter, cool, and highly toxic."

[Functions and indications] Dissipate blood stasis and reduce swelling, relieve pain and stop bleeding, eliminate phlegm, and open up the mind. Treat injuries from falls, fractures, paraplegia, epilepsy, rheumatic pain, and traumatic bleeding.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral administration: grind into powder, 1-2 li; or soak in wine. For external use: mash and apply.

[Note] Avoid using it in combination with ginseng, Scrophularia, Salvia, Adenophora, Codonopsis, Sophora flavescens, Asarum, Paeonia lactiflora, etc.

[Additional prescription] ① Treat injuries from falls: soak 50 cents of Veratrum root in 1 jin of white wine. Take 5 ml each time, and at the same time take a root (about one inch long) soaked in wine.

[Remarks] The roots of the same genus Veratrum angustifolia are used in Yunnan Province in the same way as this product. Its morphological characteristics are leaves 1.5 to 2 cm wide, the inflorescence axis is nearly glabrous, and the flower bracts are prominent and up to 3 cm long.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Selected Chinese Herbal Medicines of Yunnan".

It can be seen that the medicinal value of the root of the hemp grass is still very obvious. However, not everyone can use the root of the sedge. We can judge based on our own physical condition.