The efficacy and function of horsetail stretching

As we all know, horsetail stretching is a very common medicinal material with many years of history. It can also treat many diseases. Let us learn about the medicinal value of horsetail stretching.

[Alias] Oxtail vegetable (Compendium of Materia Medica for Famine Relief), Dashunjin vine (Illustrated Catalogue of Plant Names and Realities), Dashunjin (Chinese Materia Medica), Stemona tendon, Water bamboo, Tendon grass, Dragon beard grass, Oxtail tendon, Oxtail knot, Oxtail roll, Water ball flower, Large-leaf tendon, Oxtail fern (Hunan Materia Medica).

[Source] It is the rhizome and root of the long-leafed cowpea plant of the Liliaceae family. Dig up from June to August, wash and dry.

[Original morphology] Perennial herb, climbing. The stem is slender, with longitudinal stripes and no prickles. Leaves are alternate; ovate, oblong-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 6-9 cm long, 2.8-6.5 cm wide, acuminate or cusp at apex, cuneate or nearly rounded base, smooth and glabrous on both sides; petiole base with 2 tendrils. Flowers are unisexual and dioecious; inflorescence is umbel; axillary; perianth has 6 lobes, free and reflexed outwards; male flowers have 6 stamens, which are shorter than the perianth lobes; female flowers are smaller than male flowers, with linear-shaped reduced stamens, spherical ovary and 3-lobed stigma. The berries are spherical and black. Flowering period is June.

[Habitat distribution] Growing on hillsides, forest edges or in forests. It is distributed in areas south of the Qinling Mountains in my country. Produced in Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Shaanxi and other places.

[Properties] The dry rhizome is slightly curved and nodular, with stem scars on the upper side and numerous slender roots on the lower side, 12 to 32 cm long and 1 to 3 mm in diameter. The surface is yellow-white or yellow-brown with fine wrinkles. It is tough, not easy to break, has an uneven cross section, is white in color, and has a yellowish-white heartwood. No odor, slightly bitter taste, sticky.

[Preparation] Wash with water, moisten slightly, slice and dry.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter, neutral.

【Functions and indications】 Relaxes muscles and tendons, promotes blood circulation, dredges and relieves pain. Treat pain in the waist, legs and muscles.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 2 to 4 qian; or soaked in wine.

[Additional prescription] Treating joint pain: 50 cents of oxtail vegetable, 1 liang of roadside thorn, 1 liang of mouse thorn, and 50 cents of sieboldii. Decoction in water. (Hunan Pharmacopoeia)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

【Source】 From "Jiangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine"

The above is a detailed introduction to horsetail stretching. Since it is a traditional Chinese medicine, we can eat it with confidence. Horsetail stretching has a very good effect on improving all aspects of the human body.