The efficacy and function of Dipsacus

Dipsacus asper is a common medicinal material in traditional Chinese medicine. So what are the health benefits of Dipsacus asper? In what aspects of daily life is Dipsacus asper widely used? Let’s take a brief look at Dipsacus asper.

【English name】 RADIX DIPSACI

[Other names] Sichuan radish, monk's head, mountain radish

[Source] This product is the dried root of Dipsacus asperoides CY Cheng et TM Ai (or Dipsacus asper Wall), a plant of the Dipsacus family. Dig up in autumn, remove the root head and fibrous roots, bake over low heat until half dry, pile up to "sweat" until the inside turns green, and then dry again.

[Original form] Perennial herb, 60 to 90 cm tall. The root is conical, with a distinct taproot or several roots growing side by side, and the outer skin is yellowish-brown. The stem is erect, much branched, with ridges and shallow grooves, covered with fine soft hairs, and sparse prickles on the ridges. Leaves are opposite. It blooms in late summer and early autumn, and the inflorescence head is nearly spherical. Achenes are elliptic cuneate, about 3 to 4 mm long, usually covered with sepals, four-angled, and light brown.

[Properties] This product is cylindrical, slightly flat, sometimes slightly curved, 5 to 15 cm long and 0.5 to 2 cm in diameter. The surface is gray-brown or yellow-brown, with slightly or obviously twisted longitudinal wrinkles and grooves, transverse lenticels and a few root traces. It is soft in texture, becomes hard after being left for a long time, is easy to break, and has an uneven cross section. The bark is dark green or brown, the outer edge is brown or light brown, the wood is yellowish brown, and the vascular bundles are arranged radially. It has a slight fragrance and tastes bitter, slightly sweet and then astringent.

【Identification】 (1) Cross section of this product: rows of cork cells. The cortex is narrow. Phloem sieve tube groups are sparsely scattered. The cambium ring is obvious or not obvious. The xylem rays are broad, and the vessels are densely distributed near the cambium, becoming increasingly sparse toward the inside, often scattered singly or in groups of 2 to 4. The pith is small and the fine roots are mostly pithless. The thin-walled cells contain clusters of calcium oxalate crystals. Yellow-brown powder. There are many clusters of calcium oxalate crystals, with a diameter of 15 to 50 μm, scattered or present in wrinkled thin-walled cells, and sometimes several are arranged in tight strips. The walls of the spindle-shaped thin-walled cells are slightly thicker and have obliquely interlaced fine textures. The diameter of the bordered pits and reticulated ducts is about 72 (90) μm. Cork cells are light brown, rectangular, square, polygonal or long polygonal in surface view, with thin walls.

[Processing] Dipsacus asper : wash, soak thoroughly, cut into thin slices and dry. This product is round or oval in shape. The bark of the cross section is dark green or brown, the wood is grayish yellow or yellowish brown, radially arranged vascular bundles can be seen, and there are many dark rings in the cambium. Determined by the method under the above [Extract], it shall not be less than 45.0%.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter, spicy, slightly warm.

[return through] return the liver and kidney meridians.

[Functions and indications] Nourishes the liver and kidneys, strengthens the tendons and bones, heals fractures, and stops metrorrhagia. Used for soreness of waist and knees, rheumatic pain, metrorrhagia, fetal bleeding, and injuries from falls. Wine-soaked Dipsacus is often used to treat rheumatic pain and injuries from falls. Salt-soaked Dipsacus asparagus is often used to treat soreness in the waist and knees.

【Usage and Dosage】 9-15g.

【Storage】 Store in a dry place to prevent moth damage.

【Excerpt】 National Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicines

[Source] "Ben Jing"

The above are the effects and functions of Dipsacus asper. We can also consume Dipsacus asper reasonably according to our own situation to relieve the pain caused by the disease.