The efficacy and function of lotus grass

Lotus seedpod is a very common medicinal material in life. It has a wide range of uses and you can choose it with confidence. Let’s take a look at it together.

[Other names] Ligusticum chuanxiong, Single-legged Lotus (from "Questioning Materia Medica"), Lotus Leaf Atractylodes, Lotus Leaf Panax notoginseng, Rock Red, Single-legged Lotus, Iron Copper Plate. Wild golden melon (Commonly used folk herbs in Zhejiang Province)

[Source] The whole plant of the Asteraceae plant . Harvested in summer and autumn, sun-dried or used fresh.

[Original morphology] Perennial herb with rhizomes. The leaves at the base have long petioles, are kidney-shaped, 4 to 15 cm long, 6 to 30 cm wide, and have convex head-like fine teeth on the edges. The flower stem is erect, 30-70 cm high, initially densely hairy; the bracts are oblong or oblong-lanceolate, sessile, capitate or sparsely corymbose, 4-6 cm in diameter, and the stalk is 1.5-7 cm long; the involucre is tubular, 12-15 mm long, 12-20 mm wide, the bracts are oblong, the tip is sharp, and slightly hairy; the ligulate flowers are in one layer, female, the corolla is 3-4 cm long, 5-6 mm wide, and yellow; the tubular flowers are bisexual, with 5 lobes at the apex, and 2 lobes at the base of the anther, the lobes are linear, and the tip attachment is elliptical. Achenes are cylindrical, 5-6.5 mm long, with longitudinal stripes and short hairs; pappus are 8-11 mm long, brown in color. Flowering period is from October to December.

【Habitat distribution】 Distributed throughout the eastern part of my country. Produced in Fujian.

[Properties] The dried rhizome is irregular in shape, brown in appearance, hard and rich in fiber. The leaves grow in clusters from the top of the rhizome. The base of the petiole has long yellow-brown hairs. The dried petiole is brown and densely covered with trichomes. The leaves are mostly wrinkled, brown-green, hairy, and brittle.

[Chemical composition] The roots and leaves contain the self-condensed pyrrolidine alkaloid senecioside, which contains 0.0003% in fresh roots and 0.004% in dry leaves. The roots also contain furanacetin: furanacetin-6β,10β-diol, 1β-hydroxy-6β-methoxyfuranacetin and 10β-hydroxyfuranacetin-6β-yl 2′ξmethylbutyrate.

[Pharmacological action] The action of kelvinine is similar to that of other pyrrolidines (see the entry on "White Top Grass"), and it is significantly toxic to the liver and lungs. It can cause liver cancer. According to experimental studies, newborn rats are more sensitive than suckling rats and even more sensitive than adult rats. Therefore, disuccinimidyl does not turn into toxic metabolites in the liver microsomes (newborn rats lack metabolic enzymes in the liver), but may turn into corresponding epoxides in the body to exert toxic effects.

[Properties and flavors] ① "Fujian Folk Herbs": "spicy, warm, non-toxic."

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat, detoxifies, and promotes blood circulation. Treat wind-heat cold, sore throat, carbuncle, furuncle, scrofula, and bruises.

[Usage and Dosage] For internal use: decocted in water, 3-5 qian (1-2 liang for fresh ones). For external use: mash and apply.

[Additional prescription] ① For treating cold and influenza: 50 cents of Euphrasia officinalis. Decoction in water. (Commonly used herbal medicines among Zhejiang folks)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

【Source】 From "Fujian Folk Herbs"

Through this article's detailed introduction to the effects of lotus grass, we can understand the several major effects of lotus grass. These effects are indeed a good way to regulate the body for people with poor physical constitution and low resistance. Everyone can try it.