Effects and functions of ash

As people's living standards improve, they pay more attention to health preservation. Many people know that the Chinese medicine elm is good for the body and can treat many diseases. Let’s learn about it today.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The bark of the elm tree of the Oleaceae family.

[Original form] Large deciduous tree, over 30m tall. The bark is thick, gray-brown and longitudinally cracked. Winter buds are large, conical, dark brown, with smooth, glabrous scales on the outside and covered with brown, soft hairs on the edges and inside. The twigs are stout, yellowish brown or grayish brown, quadrangular, and have swollen nodes. There are flat broad grooves on the rachis, and the groove ridges are sometimes narrow wing-shaped. The leaflets are jointed at the attachment point, and the nodes are tufted with yellow-brown soft hairs or smooth; the leaflets are 7-11, papery, oblong to ovate-oblong, 5-20cm long, 2-5cm wide, gradually pointed or caudal at the apex, cuneate to obtuse at the base, slightly skewed, with fine serrations on the margin, glabrous or sparsely covered with white stiff hairs on the upper surface, and covered with yellow soft hairs along the veins on the lower surface, at least with dense tufts of soft hairs at the base of the midrib. The panicles grow on last year's branches and open before the leaves. The male and bisexual flowers are on different plants and both have no corolla or calyx. The male flower inflorescence is dense, with two stamens, elliptical anthers, and very short filaments that elongate rapidly during flowering. The bisexual inflorescence is slightly loose, often with two very small stamens on both sides, a flat and wide ovary, a short style, and a two-lobed stigma. The samaras are large and flat, oblong to obovate-lanceolate, obviously twisted, and with raised vein ridges. The flowering period is April, and the fruiting period is August-September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in sparse forests on hillsides or gentle river valleys.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The bark is rolled or grooved, about 2mm thick. The outer surface is gray-brown with shallow cracks and lenticels; the inner surface is brown and relatively smooth.

[Chemical composition] The bark contains esculentin, ixofraxetin, fraxin, fraxenol, and bioalkali[1].

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; Cold

【Meridian】 Liver; Lung; Large Intestine

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and dampness; clears the liver and improves eyesight. It is used for diarrhea caused by damp-heat; leucorrhea; red eyes due to liver heat; cataracts; psoriasis

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 6-12g. For external use: take appropriate amount and wash with decoction.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": Bark: bitter in taste, cold in nature. It has the functions of clearing away heat and dampness, clearing the liver and improving eyesight. Used for enteritis, dysentery, irregular menstruation, leucorrhea, chronic bronchitis, acute conjunctivitis, and malaria. For external use in psoriasis. Wax: It has the effects of stopping bleeding, promoting tissue growth, repairing tendons and bones.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the detailed introduction of this article, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of the functions and effects of elm. The several functions and effects introduced in the article are relatively common. I hope everyone can remember them and they will be helpful in your life.