The efficacy and function of Schefflera microphylla

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Schefflera small-leaved has great medicinal value and can treat many diseases. Let’s take a closer look at it below.

【English name】 root of Littleleaf schefflera

【Alias】 Seven-leaf lotus

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole plant of Schefflera microphylla of the Araliaceae family.

【Original form】 Shrub, about 5m high. The twigs are thick, cylindrical, brown-purple, covered with rusty stellate hairs when young, which gradually fall off later. The leaves have 6-10 leaflets; the petioles are cylindrical, 8-19cm long, glabrous, and the petiolules are 0.5-4cm long and almost glabrous. The leaflets are leathery, linear-oblong, with the middle one about 8cm long, acute to shortly acuminate at the wide end, base broadly cuneate to nearly rounded, margin entire or with 2-4 sparse serrations at the apex, glabrous above, rusty stellate tomentose beneath, midrib flat above, slightly raised beneath; lateral veins 10, raised on both sides, reticulate veins inconspicuous. The panicle is sparsely terminal, about 15cm long, with the main axis and branches densely covered with red rusty star-shaped hairs. The umbel has 10-40 flowers, arranged in racemes on the branches; the peduncle is 5-7mm long, the pedicel is 1-2mm long, all densely covered with rusty red star-shaped hairs; the bracts are triangular, 2-6mm long, and the bracteoles are linear-oblong, about 2mm long, all covered with hairs; the calyx is obconical, densely covered with rusty hairs, with 5 teeth, the lobes are broadly triangular, about 2mm long, the petals are 5, triangular to triangular-ovate, about 3mm long, and covered with stellate short hairs that fall off quickly on the outside; there are 5 stamens, and the filaments are as long as the petals; the ovary is inferior, 5-chambered, rarely 4-chambered, the styles are fused into a short column, about 0.8mm long, and the disk is raised. The fruit (unripe) is oblong, densely covered with rusty red star-shaped hairs, and about 3 mm long. The flowering period is October-November, and the fruiting period is December.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in rocky mountain jungles at an altitude of 1300-1500m.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The branches and leaves are cut into segments. The twigs are cylindrical, with brown-purple outer surface, young branches are sparsely covered with yellow-brown star-shaped hairs, and old branches are hairless. The complete leaflets are linear-oblong, with acute apex, cuneate to nearly circular base, entire margin or sparsely serrated at apex, glabrous above and with rusty stellate hairs beneath; the petiolules are 0.5-4cm long and almost glabrous. The branches are hard and the leaves are leathery.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; bitter; slightly sweet; neutral

【Functions and indications】Dispel wind and dredge meridians; nourish blood and stop bleeding. Mainly used for rheumatism and numbness; traumatic injuries; blood loss; vomiting blood; blood in the stool; blood deficiency and physical weakness

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 9-15g; 30g of leaves and flowers, soak in 500g of wine. Take 20ml each time.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": The whole herb can remove internal dampness, relax muscles and tendons, stop bleeding and relieve pain. Treat rheumatism, numbness, trauma, vomiting blood, bloody stool, and blood deficiency.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above is some introduction to the effects and functions of the Chinese medicine Schefflera small-leaved. Schefflera small-leaved is of great help to human diseases, but it is worth noting that we should use symptomatic medication according to our personal physical condition and avoid indiscriminate consumption.