The efficacy and function of Ligustrum lucidum

In modern life, everyone is very familiar with various Chinese herbal medicines, among which Ligustrum lucidum is a very common one. So what are the effects and functions of Ligustrum lucidum? Let’s take a look.

[Other names] Mountain evergreen, mosquito wood, rock ash, wax tree, fine wood, chewing, Kuding tea, bitter powder, holly

[Source] Medicinal material source: branches and leaves of the Oleaceae plant.

[Original form] Deciduous shrub or small tree, 2-4m high. The twigs are cylindrical, and the young branches, inflorescence axes and petioles are densely covered with rusty or yellow-brown soft hairs or stiff hairs, rarely with short soft hairs. The petiole is 2-8mm long and pubescent; the leaf blade is leathery, oblong-lanceolate, elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 2-7cm long, 1-3cm wide, with acute, short acuminate to acuminate apex, or obtuse or slightly concave, base broadly cuneate to nearly rounded, or cuneate, dark green above, sparsely pubescent, densely rusty or yellow-brown pubescent beneath, especially around the veins, rarely glabrous. Panicles axillary; axis of inflorescence densely yellowish short soft hairs or soft hairs to nearly hairless; pedicel 1-3mm long, short soft hairs or hairless; indus 1-1.5mm long, apex truncated or shallowly wavy teeth; corolla 3.5-5.5mm long, corolla tube 1.5-2.5mm long, lobes oblong-elliptical or ovate-elliptical; filaments nearly equal in length to lobes or long stem lobes, anthers oblong, about 1mm long. The fruit is nearly spherical, with a diameter of 5-8m. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from September to December.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows in hillside thickets or sparse forests.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; cold

【Meridian】 Heart; Lung

【Functions and indications】Purging fire and detoxifying. Mainly used for pharyngitis, stomatitis, carbuncle, ulcer, trauma, burns

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 10-15g, double the amount for fresh ones. For external use: take appropriate amount, decoct in water for washing or mash for application.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": Leaves: light in taste, cool in nature. It has the function of clearing heat and reducing inflammation. Used for sore throat and lip erosion.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Ligustrum lucidum is often used in the treatment of some diseases. It can be made into a compound prescription or used alone as needed. However, Ligustrum lucidum should not be consumed blindly to avoid adverse effects on the body.