The efficacy and function of Golden Lion Vine

There are so many medicinal herbs in the world, and it is inevitable that there are some that we are not familiar with. But as long as we have the spirit of learning throughout our lives, I believe we can slowly learn more medical herbs. So do you know about the medicinal herb Golden Lion Vine?

[Alias] Fragrant vine, vine potato, sha herb, southern costusroot, and smoked drum vine.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The rhizome and root of Aristolochia macrophylla, a plant of the Aristolochiaceae family.

[Original form] A large-leaved Aristolochia herbaceous vine. The rhizome is brown, slender and cylindrical. Young branches densely covered with inverted soft hairs, old branches glabrous, with obvious longitudinal grooves, leaves alternate; petiole 1.5-6cm long, densely covered with soft hairs; leaf blade ovate, ovate-cordate, ovate-lanceolate or halberd-shaped-ear-shaped, 5-18cm long, 2-5cm wide in the middle, short-pointed or acuminate at the apex, shallowly cordate or ear-shaped at the base, sparsely covered with white short soft hairs on the upper surface when young. Flowers solitary, rarely 2 flowers clustered in leaf axils; pedicels 2-7cm long, often drooping downward; bracteoles ovate or lanceolate, densely pubescent below; perianth tube sharply curved in the middle, oblong cylindrical below, narrower and slightly shorter from the curved part to the eaves than the lower part, outside of the perianth tube densely covered with long white hairs; eaves disc-shaped, with 3 shallowly lobed edges, lobes flat, nearly equal in size, yellow-green, with short purple lines at the base, and yellow throat; anthers in pairs adnate to the column near the base; ovary cylindrical, densely pubescent; syncytial column apex 3-lobed, rarely twice-lobed, with warty protrusions. The capsule is oblong or ovate, 3-7cm long, and the seeds are obovate with flat convex back. The flowering period is April-May, and the fruiting period is June-August.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in hillside bushes.

[Properties] 1. Identification of properties: The rhizome is slender and cylindrical, with a diameter of 1-3mm, a light yellow-brown surface, longitudinal grooves, and an internode length of 3-5cm. The texture is flexible. The taste is spicy and cool.

[Chemical composition] The rhizome and roots contain aristolochic acid A and magnoflorine. The total acidic component content of Aristolochia is 0.44%.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; pungent; slightly cold

【Meridian】 Liver; stomach; large intestine

【Functions and indications】Promoting qi circulation and relieving pain; clearing away heat and detoxifying; lowering blood pressure. It is used to treat abdominal distension due to qi stagnation; stomachache; abdominal pain; rheumatic joint pain; summer-heat diarrhea; carbuncle, furuncle, venomous snake bites; hypertension

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 6-15g; or ground into powder, 0.3-0.5g each time, 3 times a day. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

【Note】 People with weak constitution should take this medicine with caution.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The effects and functions of Golden Lion Vine are varied, and we should choose the appropriate method of consumption according to different physical symptoms. In life, we can learn more about this when we have free time.