The efficacy and function of wintersweet

Do you know wintersweet? It is a common Chinese medicinal material and is very helpful for some diseases. Let me show you today.

【English name】 Wintersweet Flower

[Other names] Wintersweet, yellow plum, helleborus flower, snow flower, croton flower, wax flower

[Source] Medicinal material source: The flower buds of Chimonanthus calycanthus of the Chimonanthus family.

[Original form] Wintersweet, a deciduous shrub, 2-4m high. The stems are clustered, much branched, and the bark is grayish white. The leaves are opposite, with short petioles and without stipules. The leaf blades are ovate or oblong-lanceolate, 7-15cm long, 3-7cm wide, gradually pointed at the apex, entire, cuneate or rounded at the base, dark green and shiny above, rough when old, light green and smooth below, sometimes slightly covered with sparse hairs on the veins. The flowers open before the leaves, are yellow and fragrant; the perianths are numerous, petal-shaped, and arranged in multiple layers in a shingle-like manner, with the inner perianth being small and the middle perianth being larger; yellow, thin and slightly shiny, with the outer layer forming numerous fine scales; there are 5-6 stamens, with the anther facing extroverted; there are numerous carpels, separated, and attached to the inner surface of the receptacle; the ovary is ovate and has 1 chamber. Achenes are oval, dark purple-brown, sparsely covered with fine white hairs, and contain one seed.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in hillside bushes or beside ditches.

[Cultivation] 1. Biological characteristics: It likes warm climate, is relatively cold-resistant and drought-resistant, and slightly shade-tolerant; it likes sunlight; and avoids moisture and waterlogging. It is best to plant in sandy loam with deep, loose, fertile and good drainage. It grows poorly on heavy clay and alkaline soils.

[Properties] 1. Identification of properties: The flower buds are round, short round or obovate, 1-1.5cm long and 4-8mm wide. The tepals are overlapping, and the lower part is covered with numerous membranous scales, which are yellowish brown, triangular, and slightly hairy. It has a fragrant aroma, a slightly sweet taste followed by a bitter aftertaste, and a slightly greasy feeling.

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[Pharmacological action] 1. Toxicity: Strychnine can cause severe convulsions in mammals, and its effect is similar to strychnine. The average lethal dose for mice after 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 10-40 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. Ceropegia alkaloids have a strychnine-like effect on mammals, causing severe convulsions. The average lethal dose for mice after intravenous injection is 43.79±1.89 mg/kg, for rats it is 17.16±0.82 mg/kg, and the maximum tolerable dose for rabbits is 7.5 mg.

[Toxicity] The average lethal dose for mice after intravenous injection is 43.79±1.89 mg/kg, and for rats is 17.16±0.82 mg/kg. It is more toxic to rabbits, approximately between 10-40 mg, and is definitely lethal after intravenous injection. The maximum tolerable dose is 7.5 mg.

[Preparation] Pick out the remaining stems, sand, stones and clods of earth. Sun-dried or oven-dried, set aside

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; sweet; slightly bitter; cool in nature; slightly toxic

【Meridian】 Lung; Stomach meridian

【Functions and indications】Detoxifies and clears away heat; regulates qi and relieves depression. It is used to treat summer heat, thirst, dizziness, chest tightness, abdominal distension, plum pit qi, sore throat, whooping cough, measles, and burns.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 3-9g. For external use: Apply appropriate amount, soak in oil or drop into the ear.

【Note】 Use with caution in patients with severe dampness

[Additional prescription] ① To treat chronic cough: 3 grams of iron chopstick flower. Take with boiled water. (Guiyang Folk Medicinal Herbs) ② Treat burns and burns: Soak wintersweet flowers in tea oil and apply. (Records of Collecting Medicinal Herbs in Lingnan)

[Discussions by various scholars] 1. "Compendium of Materia Medica": Relieves heat and promotes the production of body fluids.

[Excerpt] "Chinese Materia Medica" and "Chinese Medicine Dictionary"

Through the introduction in the above article, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of wintersweet flowers. I hope everyone can follow the doctor's advice when taking it, and at the same time pay attention to exercise and enhance their own resistance.