The efficacy and function of Nanchi

Nanchijiang is a very common Chinese medicine and is also a frequently used medicine. It has unique effects and functions in treating many diseases. Here we will tell you in detail about the effects of some traditional Chinese medicine Nanchijiang.

[Other names] Wild winter melon, ball lotus, ground cucumber, hemp skin trichosanthes, wild trichosanthes, black melon, bitter gourd, Qinling red gourd, wild loofah, loofah south

[Source] Medicinal material source: the root or leaf of the Cucurbitaceae plant.

【Original form】Climbing herb. Root tuberous. The stem has deep grooves and the whole plant is densely covered with soft, stiff hairs. The petiole is stout, 3-10cm long; the leaf blade is slightly hard, ovate-cordate, or nearly circular-cordate, 5-15cm long, 4-12cm wide, gradually pointed or acute at the apex, with fine serrations on the edge with calloused small tips, the base is curved, open or sometimes closed, dark green above, rough, and with short and dense bristles, the back is light in color and densely covered with light yellow soft hairs. Flowers are dioecious; male flowers are racemes, most of which are born on the upper part of the axis of the inflorescence; the axis of the inflorescence is slender, 4-8cm long, densely covered with short soft hairs; the pedicel is slender, 1-1.5cm long; the calyx is densely covered with light yellow soft hairs, the calyx tube is broadly bell-shaped, 5-6mm wide at the top, the lobes are ovate-lanceolate, with acute apex and 3 veins; the corolla is yellow, the lobes are ovate-oblong, 1.2-1.6cm long, 0.6-0.7cm wide, with acute or slightly obtuse apex and 5 veins; there are 5 stamens, which are born on the eaves of the calyx tube, and the filaments are pubescent; the female flowers are solitary, with thin pedicels, 1-2cm long; the calyx corolla is the same as that of male flowers, but the flowers are larger; the ovary is narrowly oblong, densely covered with light yellow soft hairs, the style is thick and short, 3-lobed from 2mm, the stigma is enlarged, round kidney-shaped, and 2 shallowly lobed; the sterile stamens are 5, rod-shaped. The fruit pedicel is thick, 2.5-5.5cm long; the fruit is oblong, red or orange-red when dry, 4-5cm long, 3-3.5cm in diameter, slightly obtuse at the tip or sometimes gradually narrowed, sometimes densely covered with hairs and unclear longitudinal lines, and gradually becoming hairless. The seeds are ovate or broadly ovate, 5mm long, 3.5-4mm wide, 1-1.5mm thick, with a pointed tip and a rounded base. The surface has obvious reticulation and is slightly arched on both sides. It blooms in spring and summer, and the fruits ripen in autumn.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in ravines, forest edges or hillside thickets at an altitude of 900-1700m.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The root is tuberous or flaky, gray-brown in color, gray-yellow when peeled, with fine longitudinal lines, and fibrous in cross section. The taste is light and slightly bitter.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; Cool

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies; helps digestion and relieves stagnation. Mainly used for dysentery, enteritis, indigestion, abdominal distension, and snake bites

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 9-18g. For external use: Take appropriate amount of fresh product and mash it for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Based on the above description of southern red amaranth, it can be seen that southern red amaranth has many benefits for the human body, and there are many methods and uses for it. The pharmacological effects of southern red amaranth can be used to treat corresponding diseases.