The efficacy and function of water spinach needle

The traditional Chinese medicine water spiny needle is often used by people in real life because of its effects and efficacy. So, what effects and functions does the waterthorn needle have? Let us study it together.

[Other names] Mountain oil, schizonepeta, fine-leaved mountain perilla

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Hylocereus spinulosus of the Lamiaceae family.

[Original morphology] Water spinulosa, annual herb, 0.3-1m high. Pyramid-shaped branches. The stem is quadrangular, purple or purple-gray, and covered with sparse soft hairs. Leaves are opposite; petioles are 0.7-2cm long, purple or purple-green, with narrow wings; leaf blades are papery or nearly membranous, triangular or nearly ovate, deeply lobed, lobes are lanceolate, and margins are coarsely serrated; leaf blades are green above, slightly pubescent, light-colored below, glabrous, with a raised midrib. The panicle is composed of cymes; the bracts are the same shape as the stems and leaves, but smaller; the bracteoles are linear; the calyx is bell-shaped, with papillae and glandular hairs on the outside, glabrous on the inside, with 10 veins, the middle vein is raised, the calyx teeth are 5, triangular, acuminate, with ciliate margins, and the calyx enlarges when fruiting; the corolla is blue or purple-blue, the corolla tube is hidden in the calyx or slightly longer than the calyx, glabrous on the outside, the corolla brim is two-lipped, with glandular hairs on the outside, the upper lip is 2-lobed, oblong-ovate or ovate, the lower lip is slightly larger, 3-lobed, and the middle lobe is nearly circular; there are 4 stamens, the front pair is fertile; the rear pair is a reduced stamen, inserted at the base of the lower lip, involuted in the bud, and elongated backwards in the flower, the filaments are thin and weak, glabrous, the anthers are 2-chambered, longitudinally fissured, and connected into 1 chamber when mature; the style is thin and weak, with 2 unequal shallow lobes at the apex; the disk is annular with equal shallow lobes. The nutlets are obovate-triangular, with reticulated patterns on the back and ridges on the ventral surface. The flowering period is August-September, and the fruiting period is September-October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in wilderness beside fields, sandy river beaches, roadsides and streams.

[Chemical composition] The leaves contain flavonoids such as 6-hydroxy luteolin, 8-hydroxy luteolin and luteolin.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; neutral

【Meridian】 Lung meridian

【Functions and indications】 Soothe wind and relieve exterior symptoms; clear the lungs and relieve asthma. Mainly cold; cough and asthma

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 3-9g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

From the above explanation, we have some understanding of the efficacy and function of water spinach needles. If there are any symptoms of discomfort in the body, you can use Chinese medicine to regulate it. Chinese medicine has a long history of treating diseases, so you can use it with confidence.