The efficacy and function of Lijiang Qingmuxiang

I don’t know if you are familiar with Lijiang Qingmuxiang and whether you understand its effects and functions. Let’s take a closer look at the value and eating methods of Lijiang Qingmuxiang.

[Other names] Aromatic wood, wood fragrance, wood fragrance

[Source] Medicinal material source: The root of the Asteraceae plant.

[Original morphology] Thick-leaved Costus is a perennial rosette-shaped herb with a stem height of 3-15mm. The roots are thick, cylindrical, usually unbranched, and have a light brown outer bark. Leaves are alternate, rosette-shaped, spreading and flat; basal petiole is 7-8cm long, densely covered with short soft hairs, swollen at the base, and the upper petiole is shorter; leaf blade is thick and papery; basal leaf blade is broadly obovate or nearly circular, 10-18cm long, 7-15cm wide, rounded or acute at the apex, broadly cuneate or nearly truncated at the base, with irregular wavy teeth or inconspicuous teeth on the margin, dark green above, pale below, covered with rough hairs on both sides, and the upper leaves are smaller. The head inflorescence is terminal, 4-5cm in diameter; the involucral bracts are leathery, with membranous and purple edges, slightly eyelashed, the outer layer is broadly ovate, 1-1.8cm wide, with a convex tip, and the inner layer is lanceolate, with acuminate tip; the corolla is purple, about 3cm long, and the tube is twice as long as the eaves. Achenes have ridges; pappus has three layers, which are bristle-like, the thicker ones have obviously swollen tips and are narrowly spindle-shaped, dirty yellow, and have short feathers. Flowering period is summer.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows in hillside grasslands, thickets or sparse woods.

[Properties] Identification of properties: This product is cylindrical or semi-cylindrical with longitudinal grooves, curved, 10-30cm long and 1-3cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish brown or brown with longitudinal wrinkles, and loofah-like fine veins can be seen where the outer skin falls off; there is occasionally a black sticky gelatinous substance at the root head, commonly known as "oily head". It is light, hard and brittle, easy to break, with yellow-white or yellow cross-section, sparse dark yellow oil spots and cracks, broad wood with radial texture, and some with a rotten center. It has a slight fragrance, bitter taste, and sticks to teeth when chewed.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; bitter; warm

【Functions and indications】Regulating Qi; strengthening the stomach; relieving pain. Mainly used for abdominal pain; hypochondriac pain; indigestion; chronic gastrointestinal fire; dysentery

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 6-9g; grind into powder, 1.5-3g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Lijiang Qingmuxiang is a common Chinese medicinal material, but it is often forgotten by people. In fact, its effects and functions are beyond your imagination. As long as you are good at eating it and use the right method, I believe it will be of great help to your body.