The efficacy and function of wintersweet flowers

Wintersweet is a familiar medicinal material with unusual effects and functions. It is the key to cure many diseases. Let's have a deeper understanding of wintersweet!

[Other names] Wintersweet (Compendium of Materia Medica), Yellow Plum (Compendium of Materia Medica), Iron Chopstick Flower, Snow Flower (Guiyang Folk Medicinal Herbs).

[Source] It is the flower bud of the wintersweet of the Chimonanthus family. Picked between January and February, and sun-dried or oven-dried.

[Original form] Wintersweet (Compendium of Materia Medica), also known as: wax wood, rock mulberry, and stinking wintersweet.

[Habitat distribution] It is planted in all parts of my country. Produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Guizhou and other places.

[Properties] The dried flower buds are round, rectangular or obovate, 1 to 1.5 cm long and about 0.4 to 0.8 cm wide. The perianth is overlapped into a flower bud shape, brown-yellow in color, and the lower half is covered by many membranous scales, which are yellow-brown, slightly triangular, and slightly hairy. It has a fragrant aroma, slightly sweet taste, bitter aftertaste and a slightly greasy feeling. There are two kinds of products: ① White-heart Wintersweet, with yellow flower center, double petals, round and large petals, and large flowers. ②Chimonanthus dog-heart, the flower center is red, single petal, the petals are narrow and pointed, the flower is small, and the quality is relatively poor. The best ones are those with yellow centers, complete and full flowers but not yet open.

[Chemical composition] The flowers contain volatile oils, including 1,8-cineole, borneol, linalool, benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, farnesol, pinene alcohol, indole, etc. It also contains calycanthine, isocalycanthine, calycanthine, and α-carotene. The seeds contain schizandrine, the fatty oil contains 5.6% unsaponifiable matter, and the fatty acid composition is 22% saturated fatty acids (palmitic acid, stearic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, etc.), 46% monoene fatty oil, 25% linoleic acid, and 7% linolenic acid. The leaves contain oxycarya alkali.

[Pharmacological action] Strychnine can cause severe convulsions in mammals, and its effect is similar to strychnine. The average lethal dose for mice by intravenous injection was 43.79±1.89 mg/kg, and for rats it was 17.16±0.82 mg/kg. It is more toxic to rabbits, approximately between 10 and 40 mg, and is definitely lethal after intravenous injection. The maximum tolerable dose is 7.5 mg. The toxic dose caused excitement in all three animals mentioned above, but caused inhibition in frogs. Intravenous injection in rabbits can also lower blood sugar. No effect on blood cell count. It has a stimulating effect on isolated rabbit intestines and uterus, but has a weak effect on the guinea pig uterus. It can inhibit the heart and lower blood pressure in anesthetized cats and dogs. But some people believe that it will not cause a drop in blood pressure.

【Nature and flavor】 ① "Jiuhuang Bencao": "sweet, slightly bitter."

【Functions and indications】Relieves heat and promotes salivation. Treat fever, thirst, chest tightness, cough, and burns caused by hot water or fire.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 1 to 2 qian. For external use: apply with oil.

[Additional prescription] ① To treat chronic cough: 3 grams of iron chopstick flower. Take with boiled water. (Guiyang Folk Medicinal Herbs)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

Through the detailed introduction of wintersweet flowers in this article, we can learn about the related functions and eating methods of wintersweet flowers. The value of wintersweet flowers can be seen from their efficacy, which fully reflects the importance of wintersweet flowers.