The efficacy and function of silk cotton wood

We know that there are many kinds of Chinese medicinal materials, and silk cotton wood is one of them. In order for the silk cotton wood to play its role correctly and scientifically, it is necessary to master its consumption method, because different medicinal materials have their own unique nutrition and efficacy. Let’s study it below.

[Other names] White soap tree (A Brief Record of Chinese Trees), Ceropegia ovata (Illustrated Description of Common Trees in Hebei), Euonymus japonicus (Taxonomy of Chinese Trees), White Eucommia (Illustrated Guide to Higher Plants of China), Chicken Blood Orchid (Folk Medicines of Guizhou), White Peach Tree (Common Chinese Herbal Medicines in Shanghai), Wild Eucommia ulmoides, White Camphor Tree, and Eucommia bark root (Common Chinese Herbal Medicines in Zhejiang Folk).

[Source] It is the root, bark, fruit or branches and leaves of the Celastraceae plant Cottonwood . The roots, bark, branches and leaves can be harvested throughout the year; the fruits are harvested in autumn.

[Original form] Deciduous shrub or small tree, about 6 meters high. Bark gray or gray-brown. The twigs are slender, gray-green, and slightly 4-sided; the young branches are sparsely pubescent. The leaves are opposite, elliptic-ovate to ovate, 4-10 cm long, 3-6 cm wide, gradually pointed at the apex, finely serrated on the margin, cuneate or nearly rounded at the base, hard and papery, green on both sides, and glabrous; the petiole is 1-3 cm long. The cymes are axillary, with 3 to 15 flowers; the peduncle is 1 to 2 cm long; the flowers are yellow-green, about 8 mm in diameter; there are 4 sepals, which are nearly round; there are 4 petals, which are elliptical; there are 4 stamens, and the anthers are purple, almost as long as the filaments; the ovary is connected to the disk, and there is 1 style. The gourd fruit is deeply cracked into four sharp edges with a diameter of about 1 cm. When hot, it splits into four parts, revealing the orange-red aril. Seeds light yellow. Flowering period is from May to June. The fruiting period is from September to October.

[Habitat distribution] Growing on the edge of hillside forests, foothills, and beside mountain streams. It is distributed in most parts of the country.

[Chemical composition] The root bark and stem bark contain rubber, the stem bark contains 16.3-21.8% gum, and the seeds contain 45.78% oil. It also contains dulcitol.

[Properties and flavors] Guizhou Folk Medicine: "It is cold in nature, bitter in taste. It is slightly toxic."

【Functions and indications】Relieve rheumatism, promote blood circulation and stop bleeding. Treat rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain, thromboangiitis obliterans, epistaxis, lacquer sores, and hemorrhoids.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 1 to 2 liang; or soak in wine. For external use: decoction for fumigation and washing.

[Additional prescription] ① For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: 1 liang each of silk cottonwood root and knotweed root, 5 qian each of red agarwood and acanthopanax bark, and 1.5 to 2 jin of Shaoxing wine. Soak for one week in winter (reduce the amount in summer), and take 1 to 2 liang each time. (Commonly used herbal medicines among Zhejiang folks)

[Clinical application] Treatment of thromboangiitis obliterans: Take 3-4 liang of silk cotton wood root and 5 qian of ground achyranthes bidentata (double the amount for fresh product), decoct in water and take one dose each time. The treatment course is at least 20 days. Ten cases were treated, all of whom had toe tip necrosis with disease duration ranging from 3 to 14 years. Six cases were followed up after treatment (3 to 24 months after drug withdrawal), of which five were basically cured and one improved. No adverse reactions were found during the medication period.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

【Source】 From "Guizhou Folk Medicine"

Above we introduced the silk cotton wood and its characteristics. We can know that the silk cotton wood has very good efficacy and functions, and it has played a therapeutic and auxiliary therapeutic effect on many diseases. I hope this will be helpful to everyone’s health.