The efficacy and function of water octagonal lotus

The Chinese herbal medicine water lotus is a relatively good medicinal material. Many people don’t know much about it, so let’s take a detailed look at the Chinese herbal medicine water lotus.

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of the Berberidaceae plant Water Illicium.

[Original form] Water octagonal lotus, a perennial herb. The leaves are erect, thin, glabrous, and covered with yellow-brown, thin, papery scales at the base. The rhizome is horizontal, small, with nearly circular bowl-shaped depressions between the nodes, and many lateral roots. The surface is yellow-brown and covered with white or light yellow hairs. Leaves are alternate, thin and papery; petiole is attached to the middle of the leaf blade, 5-10cm long; leaf blades are usually 2, rarely 3, of varying sizes, with various appearances, often eccentric, 5-11cm long, 8-18cm wide, with a broad cuneate tip and a mostly rounded base, sometimes purple-red above, green or brilliant green below, with unlobed margins or sometimes with inconspicuous 4-8 shallow lobes, and sparse glandular serrations. The umbel has 2-5 flowers, growing near the top of the petiole not far from the leaves. The pedicel is less than 2 cm long, curved downward, and has long soft hairs; the sepals fall early; there are 6 petals, dark red, lightly oblong; there are 6 stamens, about 7 mm long, curved inward, and the tip of the connective is extended into a thin tip. Ovary superior, one-chambered. The berries are small and spherical. Many seeds. The flowering period is from April to June, and the fruiting period is from June to September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing under forests on hillsides at an altitude of 800-1800m.

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies. Mainly used for meningitis; pharyngitis; rhinitis, etc.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 6-12g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above only introduces some of the effects and functions of water caltrop. In fact, it has other effects, which I will not introduce here one by one. If you are interested, you can take a look at the effects and matters recorded in medical books.