The efficacy and function of konjac leaves

For the Chinese medicinal material such as konjac leaves, we should first understand its medicinal value and precautions before consuming it. The following is an introduction about konjac leaves. I hope you can read it carefully, which will be of great help for your consumption.

[Other names] Betel leaf (Compendium of Materia Medica), konjac leaf (Benjing Fengyuan), sedge leaf (Gangmu Shiyi), green calamus leaf (Lingnan Caiyao Lu).

[Source] The leaves of the Piperaceae plant are picked in summer and autumn, washed and dried.

[Habitat distribution] Mainly produced in Guangdong.

【Properties】 Dry leaves are often wrinkled and tangled into balls. The leaves are ovate-oblong, with a pointed tip, inclined base, and entire margin; bald, gray-green or yellow on the surface with silver-gray spots, light yellow-green on the back, papery, old leaves are nearly leathery and slightly thick, with 5 main veins and reticulate lateral veins. The petiole is very long, slightly twisted, with longitudinal wrinkles and grooves. It has a fragrant aroma, tastes slightly salty and spicy, with a slight hint of tea.

[Chemical composition] The leaves contain volatile oil, including 7.2-16.7% chavicol, 2.7-6.2% bechelol, 0-9.6% allyl pyrocatechol, 2.2-5.6% cinnamaldehyde, 26.8-42.5% eugenol, 1.2-2.5% p-cymene, 2.4-4.8% 1,8-cineole, 4.2-15.8% eugenol methyl ether, 3.0-9.8% caryophyllene, 2.4-8.8% pyrocatechol and 4.5-6.8% indeterminate sesquiterpenes, etc. The leaves also contain a variety of free amino acids, ascorbic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, glucose, fructose, maltose, glucuronic acid, etc. Contains 25 mg of iron per 100 grams.

【Pharmacological action】 ① Antibacterial effect

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy, warm.

【Functions and indications】 Dispel wind and dampness, kill insects and relieve itching. It is used to treat wind-cold cough, stomachache, wind-toxic athlete's foot, swollen genitals, scabies, eczema, tinea pedis, and burns.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 3 to 5 qian; or mash into juice. For external use: mash and apply, grind into powder and sprinkle or boil in water for washing.

[Additional prescription] ① Treat cough caused by wind and cold: boil a few pieces of green calamus leaves with northern apricots and pork into a soup and drink it.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica": Wei is the same as konjac. People in Lingnan take its leaves and eat them together with betel nut. Nowadays people call it lumber leaves. They use the leaves to seal things, dry them in the sun for half a day, and then store them for later use. They can be kept for decades. It not only relieves stagnation and eliminates malaria, but also cures various diseases.

The above content is an introduction to the traditional Chinese medicine konjac leaves. We should learn more about konjac leaves in our daily lives so that we can use them more reasonably and better realize the value of konjac leaves.