The efficacy and function of water asarum

Water asarum is a common Chinese medicinal material with great health-care effects. It also has certain effects on some diseases. We need to choose it according to our own needs. Many people in our daily life don’t know much about water asarum. Let’s analyze water asarum below.

[Other names] Asarum, Capillary asarum, Heather asarum, Nanping asarum, and Taro leaf asarum.

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Asarum simplicifolia of the Aristolochiaceae family.

[Original morphology] Simple-leafed Asarum is a perennial herb. The rhizome is slender, with internodes 2-3cm long. Leaves are alternate and sparse; petioles are 10-25cm long and hairy; leaf blades are cordate or oval, 4-8cm long, 6.5-11cm wide, acuminate or short acuminate at the apex, cordate at the base, with scattered soft hairs on both sides, and longer hairs on the underside and leaf margins. The perianth has a short tube above the ovary, with oblong-ovate lobes, folded outward at the upper part, and the folded part is triangular and dark purple; the stamens are equal to or slightly longer than the style, the filaments are about 2 times longer than the anthers, the connective is extended and short cone-shaped; the ovary is semi-inferior, the tip of the style is radially 6-lobed, and the stigma is terminal. The capsule is nearly spherical, with a diameter of about 1.2 cm. Flowering period is from April to June.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in shady wetlands under forests beside streams at an altitude of 1300-3100m.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The rhizome is yellow-brown, 1.5-3mm in diameter, with internodes 2-7cm long and numerous slender roots on the nodes. The leaves are heart-shaped or round, with soft hairs scattered on both sides; the petioles are 10-25cm long and hairy. It has a fragrant aroma, spicy taste and a slight numbing sensation on the tongue.

【Chemical composition】 The whole plant of Asarum sieboldii (dry product) contains 0.4% volatile oil. The components of the volatile oil include: α-phellandrene, linalooloxide, linalool, borneol, naphthalene, 2-isopropyl-5-methylanisole, trans-carveol, bernyl acetate, copaene, 3,5-dimethoxytoluene, safrole, terpinyl acetate, β-gurjunene, α-muurolene, methyl eugenol, calamenene, elemicin, isoelemicin, etc.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; warm

【Meridian】 Lung; Heart; Small Intestine; Kidney; Stomach

【Functions and indications】Disperses wind-cold; warms the lungs and transforms phlegm; regulates qi and relieves pain. It is used for headache due to wind and cold; toothache; rheumatic pain; cough due to phlegm and fluid; abdominal distension and pain due to qi stagnation

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 1-3g; or grind into powder.

[Note] It is forbidden for patients with Qi deficiency and excessive sweating, Yin deficiency and headache, and pregnant women to take the medicine. "Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines in Tibet": "Use with caution in patients with acute fever, inflammation, heart failure, and hypertension. This product is anti-Veratrum."

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

In the above article, we analyzed water asarum and learned that its functions and effects are very extensive. As long as we know more about the medicinal properties of traditional Chinese medicine, we will not panic when we encounter diseases.