The efficacy and function of water lilac

There are many common Chinese medicinal materials in life, and water lilac is one of them. However, many people are not very clear about water lilac. Therefore, before choosing to eat it, you need to understand the effects and functions of water lilac.

【Alias】

Polygonum aviculare, red cowpea, trumpet grass (Chinese Medicinal Plant Catalogue), water wax gourd (Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine), water jujube, water jute (Southern Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine), water willow (Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica Catalogue), field polygonum, red hemp (Hunan Medicinal Catalogue), water sedge (Guizhou Medicinal Plant Survey), water oil hemp, mountain mouse melon (Fujian Chinese Herbal Medicine).

[Original form]

Annual herb. There are many fibrous roots. When they are seedlings, they lie flat on the ground or in a tilted position. Later, their stems grow upright and are 20 to 50 cm long. The stem is angular and has many branches. The branches are square. In autumn, the stems and leaves turn purple-red and the whole body is smooth and hairless. Simple leaves are alternate; the leaves are lanceolate, 4 to 7.5 cm long, 1 to 2 cm wide, gradually pointed at the apex, entire, gradually narrowed at the base, and the petiole is less than half the length of the leaf blade. Flowers are axillary, usually 1-2, sessile; calyx 4-5 lobed, lobes ovate, about 2 mm long, with fine hairs on the outside, persistent; petals are the same number as calyx lobes, elliptical, about 3 mm long, obtuse at the apex, narrow at the base, short claw-shaped, early-falling; stamens 4-5; ovary inferior, densely covered with short fine hairs on the outside, 4-chambered, style short, stigma simple, capitate. The capsule is linear and square, erect or slightly curved, truncated at both ends, 15 to 20 mm long, and turns purple when ripe; the seeds are small, smooth, and brown-yellow. Flowering period is from July to August. The fruiting period is from September to October.

【Habitat distribution】

Grown near water. Distributed in Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan and other places.

【Nature and flavor】

Bitter and cool.

【Function and indications】

Diuretic and detumescent, clearing away heat and detoxifying. Treat edema, gonorrhea, dysentery, leucorrhea, carbuncle, and furuncle.

【Usage and Dosage】

For internal use: decoction. For external use: mash and apply or decoct in water for washing.

【extract】

"*dictionary"

Through the introduction in this article, we can learn some relevant knowledge about water lilac. Whether from the perspective of food health or traditional Chinese medicine, the role of water lilac cannot be underestimated.