The efficacy and function of bitter tea leaves

Traditional Chinese medicine often has unexpected effects in the treatment of certain diseases, so you can choose it with confidence. However, when choosing traditional Chinese medicine, you need to understand the medicine so that when treating the disease, you will know what kind of medicine is the best choice. Let us introduce the traditional Chinese medicine bitter tea leaves.

[Other names] Small white wax, bitter powder, Kuding tea (Guizhou Folk Medicine).

[Source] It is the leaves of Ligustrum japonicum, a plant of the Oleaceae family . Available all year round.

[Original form] Evergreen shrub, about 2 meters high. The branches are brown or gray-brown with many white lenticels, and the twigs are densely covered with short soft hairs. Leaves are opposite, oblong, ovate-elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 4-8 cm long, 1.5-4 cm wide, acuminate at apex, cuneate or rounded at base, entire, leathery, shiny on the upper side, with prominent apex beneath; petiole 3-12 mm long. The inflorescence is triangular-conical, 5 to 12 cm long; the flowers are small, white, and have short stalks; the calyx is bell-shaped, with 4 shallow teeth at the tip; the corolla is 4-lobed, and the lobes are slightly shorter than the corolla; there are 2 stamens, and the anthers are oblong; there is 1 pistil, and the stigma is club-shaped. The berry-like drupe is oblong, slightly curved, and purple-black when hot.

【Habitat distribution】Grows in mountains and fields.

[Pharmacological action] The alcohol extract of Ligustrum lucidum leaves can increase the contraction amplitude of isolated frog hearts. Intravenous injection into cats can also enhance cardiac contraction (direct recording of the in situ heart). The alcohol solution of resinous substance or alcohol extract of leaves can lower blood pressure and have a constrictive effect on isolated rabbit ear blood vessels.

[Nature and flavor] "Guizhou Folk Medicine": "Cool in nature, bitter and slightly sweet in taste."

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies. It is used to treat conjunctivitis, oral thrush, tooth abscess, mastitis, swelling and poison, and burns caused by hot water or fire.

[Usage and Dosage] For internal use: boil into paste. For external use: decoct in water for washing, grind into powder for application or boil into paste for application.

[Additional prescription] ① To treat the initial stage of conjunctivitis: boil five to six pounds of bitter tea leaves into a thick juice, filter it, then continue to boil it into a paste. Spread it on paper, make it into a plaster, and apply it to both eyes once a night for three to four times. It can also treat all kinds of unknown swellings, pus, wet sores, and ulcers, and can be applied externally with a patch. It can also treat fever and ulcers in children's mouths. The paste can be mixed with warm water and taken three times a day. It can also treat heat and pain in the abdomen.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Guizhou Folk Prescriptions and Medicines Collection".

The above is a detailed introduction to the effects and functions of bitter tea leaves. When choosing it, pay attention to the dosage to avoid causing harm to your body.