The efficacy and function of Kite root

Many people are not very clear about the effects and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine iris root. Let’s take a look below.

[Other names] Kite head, flat bamboo root, red hemp, earth anemarrhena, cold water dan, toad jumping gap, blue flower dwarf, nine knives, mountain search tiger, down mountain search, blue seven, sky centipede, down mountain tiger, shake mark seven, rein horse back to yang, middle mountain search, earth field seven, black seven, toad seven, frog seven, scorpion horse seven, mountain search dog, snake head anemarrhena

[Source] Medicinal material source: The rhizome of Iris truncatula, a plant of the Iridaceae family.

[Original form] Iris, perennial herb. Height 35-80cm. The base of the plant is surrounded by membranous leaf sheaths and fibers remaining from old leaves. The rhizome is short and thick, often in the shape of a snake's head, rarely in irregular blocks, with dense ring patterns. Leaves are basal; blades are sword-shaped, 15-50cm long, 1.5-3.5cm wide, gradually pointed at the apex, sheath-like at the base, overlapping in 2 rows, with several inconspicuous longitudinal veins. The pedicel is 20-40cm high, nearly as long as the leaves, with 1-2 cauline leaves in the middle and lower parts, and 1-2 branches at the top; there are 2-3 bracts; the pedicel is 1-2cm long; the flowers are blue-purple, up to 10cm in diameter, with 6 perianth lobes arranged in 2 whorls, the outer whorl lobes are obovate or nearly circular, folded outward, and the midrib has irregular orange-yellow cockscomb-like protrusions, the inner whorl lobes are smaller, obovate, arched and upright, the perianth tube is 3-4cm long, there are 3 stamens, 2.5-3cm long, and the anthers are yellow; the ovary is inferior, 3-chambered, the style has 3 branches, is petal-shaped, blue, covered with stamens, 2-lobed at the apex, and has fringed edges. Capsule, elliptical to obovate, 4-6cm long, 2-2.5cm in diameter, with 6 distinct ribs; seeds are pear-shaped, dark brown, with wrinkled seed coat. The flowering period is April-May, and the fruiting period is June-July.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows on forest edges, waterside wetlands and sunny slopes.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The dry rhizome is oblate cylindrical, gray-brown on the surface, with nodes, which are often branched. The internode part is swollen at one end and shrunken at the other end. The swollen part is densely covered with concentric rings, which are denser towards the top. The texture is hard, and scattered small dots (vascular bundles) can be seen on the cross section. It has a faint smell and tastes bitter and spicy.

[Chemical composition] The rhizome contains isoflavone glycosides: andro-sin, iristectorin A, B, iristectorigenin A, B, demethyliris-tectorigenin A or B, tectoruside, tectoridin, tectorigenin, irigenin.

[Pharmacological action] 1. Anti-inflammatory effect: Kriegroot has a significant inhibitory effect on both the early and late stages of inflammation. Oral administration of 13g/kg of the ethanol extract had an inhibitory effect on the increased permeability of the mouse skin or abdominal capillaries caused by histamine and acetic acid, and the ear swelling caused by croton oil. It also has a significant inhibitory effect on hyaluronidase or formaldehyde-induced foot swelling and cotton ball granulation tissue hyperplasia in rats. The iris flavonoids and iris flavonoids contained in it have anti-hyaluronidase effects in test tubes and are not blocked by cysteine. They can also inhibit hyaluronidase-induced edema in rats but not carrageenan-induced edema. It also has an inhibitory effect on ascites exudation caused by intraperitoneal injection of nitrogen mustard in rats.

[Processing] Take the original medicinal materials, remove the remaining leaves and impurities, wash, take out, and soak them thoroughly. Cut into thin slices. Dry and sieve to remove dust.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; pungent; cold; toxic

【Meridian】 Spleen; stomach; large intestine

【Functions and indications】 Eliminate accumulation and kill parasites; remove blood stasis and promote diuresis; detoxify. Staple food accumulation; abdominal pain caused by roundworms; swelling caused by masses; sore throat; hemorrhoids and fistulas; swelling caused by falls; sores, boils, and swelling; snake and dog bites

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 1-3g; grind into juice or powder. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

【Note】 People with weak constitution and loose stools and pregnant women should not take this medicine.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

In general, the effect of orchid root is quite significant. Precisely because orchid root has relatively good health-preserving effects, it can be said that the application of orchid root in health-preserving activities in daily life is quite high.