The efficacy and function of Pili

The medical value of Pili is beyond our imagination. It is very effective in treating some diseases. Pili contains many substances that are beneficial to the human body. Let’s take a look.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The fruit of the plant Pilile of the family Cyperus.

[Original form] Deciduous tree, 18-35m tall, with a chest circumference of up to 1m. The branches are gray with longitudinal lines and obvious spirally ascending leaf scars. The twigs, young leaves and base of petioles often have rusty hairs. Leaves are spirally clustered at the top of branches; petioles are 3-9cm long, glabrous, and often have 2 glands in the middle and upper parts; leaf blades are broadly ovate or obovate, papery, 18-26cm long, 6-12cm wide, entire, with wavy edges, obtuse or mucronate at the apex, gradually narrowed or obtuse at the base, glabrous on both sides, sparsely covered with white tubercles, shiny, with 5-8 pairs of lateral veins, dense reticulate veins on the back, and fewer tubercles. The spike inflorescence is axillary, often gathered into a corymb at the upper part of the stem, 5-12cm long, densely covered with reddish-brown silky hairs, with male flowers at the upper part and bisexual flowers at the base; the flowers are 5-merous, light yellow, the protruding part not connected with the stamens is 4.5mm long, and sessile; the calyx tube is cup-shaped, 3.5mm long, 5-lobed, the lobes are triangular, about 3mm long, and covered with pubescence; the petals are absent; the stamens are 10, attached to the outside of the hairy disk; the disk only appears on bisexual flowers, 10-lobed, covered with reddish-brown whiskers; the ovary is superior, 1-chambered, the style is rod-shaped, 5mm long, the lower part is thick, covered with sparse long pubescence, and the upper part is slender and slightly curved. The pseudodrupe is ovate, densely covered with rusty hairs, 2-3 cm long, 1.8-2.5 cm in diameter, with 5 distinct ridges, and 1 seed. The flowering period is March-April, and the fruiting period is May-July.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in sunny places on hillsides and sparse woods at an altitude of 540-1350m.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The fruit is oval, 1.7-3.5cm long and 1.6-2.5cm in diameter. The surface is tan with dense brown hairs. It is relatively delicate, with five-sided ridges and irregular longitudinal wrinkles, and a fruit stalk colony mark at the base. It is hard and not easy to break. The flesh is 1-2.5mm thick, dark brown or light green-yellow. The fruit core is light brown and hard. There is one seed, with a brown-yellow seed coat and a yellow-white, oily kernel. It has a faint odor, a slightly bitter taste, and a bean smell when chewed.

[Identification] Take 1g of crude powder, add 20ml of water, heat in a 60℃ water bath for 10 minutes, filter, take 1ml of the filtrate, add 1-2 drops of sodium chloride-gelatin test solution, and a white precipitate will be produced. (Check tannin)

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; slightly astringent; cold

【Functions and indications】Detoxifies and relieves sore throat; relieves cough and dysentery; nourishes blood and stops bleeding. Sore throat; cough; diarrhea; hemorrhoidal bleeding; metrorrhagia; physical weakness after illness

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 3-10g; or grind into powder. For external use: Apply appropriate amount, burn the ashes into powder and sprinkle on the affected area, or mix and apply.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above introduces some basic knowledge about Pili. I believe many people will have a better understanding of Pili after reading it. There are many other medicinal herbs that we often come into contact with in our daily lives. If you have time, you might as well learn more about them.