The efficacy and function of Casuarina equisetifolia

The traditional Chinese medicine Casuarina equisetifolia is often used by people in real life because of its functions and effects. So, what kind of effects and functions does Casuarina equisetifolia have? Let us study it together.

[Other names] Equisetum equisetum, Equisetum equisetum

[Source] Medicinal material source: young branches, leaves or bark of Casuarina equisetifolia, a plant of the Casuarinaceae family.

[Original form] Evergreen tree, 10-30m high, with a breast diameter of about 70m. The bark of young trees is ochre-red, thin, and has dense lenticels; the bark of old trees is rough, dark brown, with irregular longitudinal cracks, and the inner bark is dark red. The branches are reddish brown, with dense nodes, and drooping. The leaves are scale-like, light brown, and usually 7 in a whorl. Flowers are unisexual, monoecious or dioecious; male inflorescences are spike-shaped, with almost no peduncle; male flowers have 2 tepals, caducous early; with 1 stamen and 4 bracts; female inflorescences are spherical or capitate, terminal on short side branches, shorter and wider than male inflorescences; female flowers have 1 bract and 2 bracteoles axillary, without perianth; pistil consists of 2 carpels. Ovary superior, initially 2-chambered, posteriorly degenerated to 1-chambered, style short, with 2 linear stigmas, usually red, cones, 1-1.2 cm in diameter, short-stalked, woody persistent bracts with fine pubescence on the back, containing a thin-winged nutlet; seeds solitary, seed coat membranous. The flowering period is April-May, and the fruiting period is July-October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Native to the coastal beaches and dunes of northeastern and northern Australia and the Pacific Islands.

【Cultivation】 Biological characteristics: It prefers high temperature and warm climate. It can grow when the annual accumulated temperature is above 7000℃ and the absolute minimum temperature is above 0℃. It is not drought-resistant during the seedling stage, but is tolerant to salt and alkali and can resist sand burial. It is best to cultivate it in sunny, loose, fertile, neutral or slightly alkaline new alluvial sandy soil, and it can coexist with rhizobia.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The branches are relatively long, the main branches are cylindrical, gray-green or brown-red, the twigs are arranged in whorls, gray-green, with about 7 longitudinal ridges, slender, and 0.4-0.6mm in diameter. The nodes are densely distributed, the internodes are 3-6mm long, and the scale leaves are arranged in whorls of 7, white at the bottom and reddish brown at the tip. There are sometimes spike-like male inflorescences and capitulate female inflorescences at the top of the branches. The nodes are easy to fall off, the branches are easy to break, and the cross-section is yellow-green. Slight odor, light taste.

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【Nature and flavor】 slightly bitter; pungent; warm

【Meridian】 Lung; Large Intestine; Small Intestine

[Functions and indications] Clear the lungs and relieve cough, promote qi circulation and relieve pain, warm the middle and stop diarrhea, and eliminate dampness. It is used to treat colds and fever, cough, hernia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dysentery, difficulty urinating, and athlete's foot.

【Usage and Dosage】 For oral use: decoction, 3-9g. For external use: take appropriate amount, decoct in water for fumigation and washing; or mash and apply on the affected area.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica" says that the branches and leaves can treat hernia, amoebic dysentery and chronic tracheitis.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the introduction of the above content, we can understand that Casuarina equisetifolia plays a very important role in treating some diseases. The consumption of the Chinese medicine Casuarina equisetifolia should also be determined according to one's physical condition. Remember not to use the medicine blindly.