The efficacy and function of Puxiancai

Puxiancai can not only supplement the body's nutritional elements, but also help regulate various functions of the body. It also has high medicinal value. Today, I will take you to learn about Puxiancai.

[Alias] Stone vegetable, Churuba.

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of the cruciferous plant Cardamine macrophylla.

[Original form] Cardamine is a perennial herb, 30-100cm tall. The rhizome is slender and thick, creeping and densely covered with fibrous roots. The stem is relatively thick, cylindrical, erect, sometimes procumbent at the base, single or branched at the top, with grooves on the surface. Odd-pinnate compound leaves, basal leaves with long petioles, usually absent due to early withering; stem leaves usually 4-5, with petioles, petioles 2.5-5cm long, 4-5 pairs of leaflets, terminal and lateral leaflets are elliptical or ovate-lanceolate, 4-9cm long, 1-2.5cm wide, obtuse or short acuminate at the apex, serrated at the margins, terminal leaflet base cuneate, without petiole, lateral leaflet base slightly unequal on both sides, base of the uppermost pair of leaflets decurrent, leaflets with few hairs on the upper side and scattered soft hairs on the lower side. The raceme is terminal, with many flowers; 4 sepals, the outer sepals are light pink, the inner sepals are green, and the base is sac-shaped; 4 petals, lavender or purple-red, rarely white, obovate, 9-14mm long, gradually narrowing to claws towards the base; 6 stamens, 4 long and 2 short, the long stamens are 7-9mm long, and the short stamens are 6mm long; 1 pistil, the ovary is columnar, the style is short, and the stigma is slightly concave. The siliques are slightly flat, 3.5-4.5 cm long; the petals are flat, glabrous, sometimes purple, the persistent style is very short, and the stigma is slightly enlarged. Seeds elliptical, brown, without margins. Flowering and fruiting period is from May to October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing between 1600-4200m above sea level. It is found under shrubs on hillsides, beside ditches, in rock crevices, and in wet places on alpine grass slopes.

【Properties】 Identification of properties: The rhizome is slender, and fibrous roots can be seen on it. The stem is cylindrical, with longitudinal ridges, about 0.5 cm in diameter, and green or withered green on the surface. The odd-pinnate compound leaves are mostly wrinkled, with 4-5 pairs of leaflets, ovate-lanceolate, gradually pointed at the apex, cuneate at the base, serrated at the margin, obvious main veins, yellow-green or brown-green; no petioles. It is brittle and easily broken. Sometimes racemes or infructescences are seen with siliques, purple-brown or brown. It has a light fragrance and a light taste.

【Nature and flavor】 sweet; bland; neutral

【Functions and indications】 Strengthens the spleen, promotes diuresis and reduces swelling; cools blood and stops bleeding. Mainly used for spleen deficiency; edema; dysuria; leucorrhea and metrorrhagia; hematuria

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 9-15g; or stew with meat.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

In general, the effect of Puxiancai is quite significant. It is precisely because Puxiancai has relatively good health-preserving effects that the application of Puxiancai in health-preserving life can be said to be quite high.