The efficacy and function of cycad leaves

Do you know about Cycas leaves? It is a common medicinal material. Generally, Cycas leaves are used as raw materials in many places. It can also treat many physical diseases. Let’s take a look at the relevant knowledge about Cycas leaves.

[Other names] banana leaf, iron leaf

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leaves of Cycas revoluta, a plant of the Cycadaceae family.

[Original form] Evergreen woody plant, unbranched, 1-4m tall, rarely reaching more than 8m. Densely covered with persistent leaf bases and leaf scars, pinnate leaves grow from the top of the stem, 0.5-2m long, with thorns on both sides of the base, 2-3mm long, more than 100 pairs of pinnae, linear, thick leathery, 9-18cm long, 4-6mm wide, sharp at the apex, edges significantly curled downward, narrow base, asymmetrical on both sides, dark green and shiny above, slightly concave in the center, light green below, and midrib significantly raised. Dioecious, male cones are cylindrical, 30-70cm long and 8-15cm in diameter; microsporophyll are oblong-cuneate, 3-7cm long, with acute heads, and densely brown or grayish-yellow long hairs on the midrib and tip below; megasporophyll are flat, 14-22cm long, densely covered with light yellow or light grayish-yellow hairs, the upper apex is broadly ovate, with pinnately divided edges, and several nearly spherical ovules on both sides below. The seeds are oval, slightly flattened, concave on the top, 2-4cm long, 1.5-3cm in diameter, scarlet when ripe, flowering period is June-July, and the seeds mature in October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: South China and Southwest China, mostly cultivated in gardens. It is mostly planted in pots in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other parts of North China and placed in greenhouses over the winter.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The leaves are large, pinnate, the rachis is oblate, and the petiole base has thorns on both sides, which are yellowish brown. Hard texture, fibrous cross section. Pinnae are linear-lanceolate, 9-18cm long, 4-6mm wide, yellow or yellowish brown, with edges curled back toward the back, and sparsely covered with brown soft hairs on the back. It is brittle, easy to break, and has a flat cross section. Slight odor, light taste.

[Chemical composition] The leaves contain sotetsuflavone, hinokiflavone, 2,3-dihydrohinoki-flavone, amentoflavone, and 2,3-dihydroamentoflavone.

【Nature and flavor】 sweet; bland; neutral; slightly toxic

【Meridian】 Liver; Stomach

【Functions and indications】 Regulating qi and relieving pain; dispersing blood stasis and stopping bleeding; reducing swelling and detoxifying. It is mainly used for pain caused by stagnation of qi in the liver and stomach; amenorrhea; vomiting blood; blood in the stool; dysentery; swelling and infection; bleeding caused by trauma; and injuries caused by falls.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 9-15g; or burn to preserve its essence, then grind into powder. For external use: appropriate amount, burn to ash; or grind into powder for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

After reading the above detailed introduction to the effects and functions of cycad leaves, I believe many friends have already known the benefits of cycad leaves. It can be seen that cycad leaves are very beneficial to our human body. If you need it, you might as well give it a try.