The efficacy and function of water hyacinth

Water hyacinth is a famous traditional and commonly used Chinese medicinal material in my country with a long history of application. Today we will learn about water lily.

[Other names] Wolf tail lahua, tracheitis grass, a stick of incense, dragon-slaying sword, centipede grass, wind-chasing grass, a stick of incense, reining in the horse, asthma grass

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of the Scrophulariaceae plant Water vine.

[Original form] Water vine is a perennial herb, 50-90cm tall. Rhizome short. Stems erect, often unbranched, usually pubescent with white hairs. The leaves below are often opposite, and the leaves above are mostly alternate; sessile; the leaf blade is broadly linear to ovate, 2-6cm long, 0.5-2cm wide, obtuse or pointed at the apex, cuneate at the base, gradually narrowing into a short petiole or sessile, with a single serration on the edge. The raceme is terminal, slender, solitary or compound, and long spike-shaped; the pedicel is 1-3mm long and pubescent; the calyx is deeply 4-lobed, the lobes are oval or cuneate, 2-3mm long, and have eyelashes; the corolla is blue-purple, rarely white, 5-6mm long, the tube is 2mm wide and long, with pubescent throat, the lobes are of varying widths, the last one is oval, and the rest of the 3 are oval; the filaments are glabrous and extend out of the corolla; the ovary is superior, 2-chambered, and the stigma is capitate. Capsule ovoid, slightly flattened, with slightly concave tip. Flowering period is from June to September.

[Habitat distribution] Growing in meadows, grasslands, thickets and under sparse woods. It is widely distributed from Gansu to east of Yunnan, Hebei, and south of Shanxi.

【Properties】 Identification: The whole plant with dried flower spikes is brown in color and 20-100cm long. The roots are whisker-like, the main root is not obvious, light gray-brown, 3-5cm long and about 1mm in diameter. The stem is single, cylindrical, 2-3mm in diameter, brittle, easily broken, and hollow in cross section. The leaves are opposite or alternate, mostly curled and broken. When intact, they are narrowly ovate or broadly lanceolate when flattened, 2.5-6cm long, 0.6-2cm wide, yellow-green or dark green, gradually narrowing at the base and with serrated edges. The inflorescence is terminal spike, with a length of 10-15 cm. The capsule is oblate and the seeds are small. It has a faint smell and a bitter taste.

【Chemical composition】 The whole plant contains iridoid glycosides: catalposide, verproside, ver-minoside, picroside, rehmaglutin D and jiofuran. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

[Pharmacological action] The total flavonoids of Water Mangcaoqing have no obvious antitussive effect, but its hydrolysis products, total flavonoid aglycones and mannitol, have obvious antitussive effects.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; cold

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies; resolves phlegm and relieves cough. It is used to treat lung heat cough, lung abscess, coughing up pus and blood, sores, boils and swelling, skin eczema, and itching caused by urticaria.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 10-15g. For external use: take appropriate amount and wash with decoction.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

In general, the effect of Water Manqing is quite significant. It is precisely because Water Manqing has relatively good health-preserving effects that the application of Water Manqing in health-preserving life can be said to be quite high.