The efficacy and function of Sagittaria

Many people are not very clear about the effects and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine Cigu. Let’s take a look below.

[Other names] Tianhe taro (Records of Medicinal Herbs in Lingnan), prickly taro (Flora of Guangzhou), water taro (Luchuan Materia Medica), Lemeng, taro, and lotus root (Nanning Pharmacopoeia).

[Source] It is the rhizome of the Araceae plant , Colocasia esculenta . Harvest in summer and autumn, wash, and dry in the sun or slice and dry in the sun.

[Original form] Thorny herb. The rhizome is cylindrical, about 2.5 cm in diameter, with nodules and hard thorns, and lateral roots. The leaves are leathery, 15 to 45 cm long, halberd-shaped or sagittate-shaped when young, with broad or narrow basal lobes, often wider than long when old, deeply pinnate-lobed, cordate at the base, with lanceolate lobes, long and gradually pointed, with one main vein and thorns along the dorsal vein; the petiole is cylindrical, 60 to 120 cm long, with thorns, and sheathed at the base. The spathe is 20 to 35 cm long and blood red. The inflorescence is twisted and only the base is open; the spadix is ​​about 2.5 cm long, 5 to 10 cm when fruiting, about 2.5 cm wide, and densely florid; the flowers are bisexual, opening from top to bottom. The berries are inverted cone-shaped with 5 to 6 ridges, like grapes. Flowering period is summer.

[Habitat distribution] Grown in shady and moist valleys, swamps and ponds. Distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi and other places. Produced in Guangdong, Guangxi and other places.

[Properties] The dry rhizome is cylindrical, with brown epidermis, raised nodules and sharp thorns, and the internodes are about 6 to 7 cm long. There are residual lateral root marks and the base of the petiole curled inward. The medicinal materials are mostly cut into oblique slices, the cross-section is grayish white or pink, powdery, and has many small brown spots. The taste is spicy.

[Chemical composition] The rhizome contains flavonoids, phenols, amino acids, organic acids and sugars.

【Nature and flavor】 ① "Luchuan Materia Medica": "Cool in nature, light in flavor."

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat, promotes diuresis and detoxifies. It is used to treat thirst due to fever, cough caused by lung heat, yellow and red urine, and heat and toxicity in the skin.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 3 to 5 qian. For external use: decoct in water for washing or grind into powder for application.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Records of Collecting Medicinal Herbs in Lingnan".

Having said so much, we can see that Cigu has many functions. It can also be used as medicine to treat diseases. You might as well know more about these, it will be helpful in your life.