The efficacy and function of Snakehead

Snakehead snakehead is a common Chinese medicine with many different functions. It can regulate some diseases of the human body. Let us learn about its specific functions below.

【Other name】 ground lychee

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Basilicata spicata of the Basiliaceae family.

[Original form] Herbaceous, 8-18cm high. The rhizome is red to brownish red, branched or unbranched, obovate when branched and irregularly spherical when unbranched, 3.5-5cm long and 2.5-3cm in diameter, with densely granular coarse warts on the surface and obvious light red or light yellow star-shaped lenticels, and the apical sheath has 4-6 lobes. The flower stem is 1-9 cm long; the scale-like bracts are fleshy, usually opposite, concave, 1.5-2.5 cm long, up to 1 cm wide, and more or less embracing the flower stem. Flowers are dioecious (inflorescence); male inflorescence is spike-shaped, green with red, gradually turning purple-red, 4.5-12cm long, male flowers are sparse, sessile, yellow, with 6 perianth lobes of unequal size, 1 lobe each for the middle, upper and lower (perianth) lobes, 4 smaller lateral (perianth) lobes, polygamous stamens nearly disc-shaped, anthers short-lobed, with many locules; female inflorescence is red, ovate or oblong-cylindrical, 3-6.5cm long, 1.5-2.5cm in diameter, obtuse or nearly acute at the apex, ovary nearly spherical, attached to the base of the appendages, style filiform, 2-3 times longer than the ovary, appendages are long stick-shaped, up to 1mm long, flat or slightly protruding at the apex, and slender at the base. Flowering period is from August to December.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in valley broad-leaved forests at an altitude of 700-2400m.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; slightly astringent; cool

【Functions and indications】 Cooling blood and stopping bleeding; clearing away heat and detoxifying. It is used for cough due to lung heat, vomiting blood, bleeding due to intestinal wind, metrorrhagia, wind-heat rash, back pain, swollen penis in children, hemorrhoids, furuncle and swelling.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 9-15g. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Having said so much, we can see that Snakehead Mushroom has many uses. It can also be used as medicine to treat diseases. You might as well know more about these, it will be helpful in your life.