The efficacy and function of Qufengtong

The traditional Chinese medicine Qufengtong is already very familiar to most people. But in fact, not many people understand the effects and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine Qufengtong, so let’s talk about it below.

[Other names] Rhus thornii, Rhus thornii, Gypsophila paniculata, Gypsophila serrata, Gypsophila serrata

[Source] Medicinal material source: the stems, branches and leaves of the Rutaceae plant Zanthoxylum bungeanum.

[Original form] Tree, up to 15m high. There are often sharp thorns with a circular protruding base on the trunk. The tree is gray-brown in color, and the pith of the branches of the current year is often large and hollow. Odd-pinnate compound leaves are alternate, hard papery to leathery; petiolules are 2-4mm long; leaflets are 9-15, ovate, broadly ovate or ovate-oblong, 7-145cm long, 3.5-7cm wide, with acute or short-caudal apex, blunt and slightly concave, leaflets born on the upper part of the rachis are usually rounded and unequal at the base, leaflets born on the lower part of the rachis are narrowly cuneate and equal, with smaller, shallowly serrated edges, transparent glandular dots at the tooth gaps, dark green and shiny above, green below, brown-red on both sides after drying, not hairy, midrib is sunken, convex below. The corymb panicle is terminal, the rachis is slightly covered with short hairs, 10-30cm long, the branches are oblique, white, fragrant, and there are short thorns on the rachis and branches; the bracts are small and ovate; the sepals are 5, broadly ovate, about 1mm long; the petals are 5, oblong, about 2.5mm long; the male flowers have 5 stamens, about 3mm long, the filaments are linear, the anthers are broadly elliptical, there is a translucent glandular dot at the tip of the connective, the reduced carpels are small, and the tip is 2-3 forked; the reduced stamens of the female flowers are very short, with 3 carpels, and the style is very short and stigma-shaped. Mature carpels 2-3, rarely 1, brown-red. The follicles are brown-red, with coarse glandular dots on the surface of the mericarps. The seeds are ovoid, about 3.5mm long, brown-black and shiny. The flowering period is July-August, and the fruiting period is September-October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows in sparse forests and moist places beside roads.

【Nature and flavor】 Pungent; bitter; warm

【Functions and indications】 Eliminate rheumatism; reduce swelling and detoxify; relieve pain and stop bleeding. It is mainly used for colds, rheumatism, fractures, traumatic bleeding, burns, and snake bites.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 10-25g of stems and twigs; 6-15g of leaves. For external use: take appropriate amount, decoct stems and twigs in water and use for washing; grind dry leaves into powder and spread; or mash fresh leaves and sprinkle on the affected area.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Now you know the effect of Qufengtong. I didn’t know that Qufengtong was such a valuable thing before, which shows that our knowledge is not broad enough. So in the future life, learning more about it can be a good way to maintain health. In fact, if you want to maintain your health, there is knowledge everywhere in life.