The efficacy and function of Gracilaria

Traditional Chinese medicine often has unexpected effects in the treatment of certain diseases, so you can choose it with confidence. However, when choosing traditional Chinese medicine, you need to understand the medicine so that when treating the disease, you will know what kind of medicine is the best choice. Let us introduce the traditional Chinese medicine Gracilaria below.

[Other names] Asparagus, seaweed, thread vegetable, dried sea vermicelli, noodle noodles, bamboo tube vegetable, oyster vegetable, hair vegetable, vermicelli

[Source] Medicinal material source: The algae of plants such as Gracilaria true, Gracilaria brittle, Gracilaria taro root, Gracilaria pubescens, Gracilaria beard seaweed, Gracilaria fine-based, and Gracilaria flat, which belong to the Gracilariaceae family.

[Original morphology] 1. The body of the true Gracilaria is light brown to dark brown, sometimes light purple-brown or yellow-green, nearly cartilaginous, solitary or clustered, generally 5-50cm high, up to 1-2m or more, linear, cylindrical, generally with a main trunk reaching the top, 1-2mm in diameter, branches irregularly alternate or eccentric, 1-2 times, branch diameter 0.5-1mm, varying in length, slightly contracted at the base. The medullary parenchyma cells are large, and the cortex is composed of 2-5 layers of smaller cells containing chromatin. The tetrasporangium is flesh-red and appears as spot-like protrusions on the body surface. The sperm vesicle is light yellow and grows in a shallow pit in the cortex or in the sunken part of the genital fossa. The capsule is spherical or hemispherical, often protruding from the surface of the mature female gametophyte. The algal holdfast is disc-shaped.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: 1. Grown on rocks in the mid-tidal to subtidal zones, in calm inner bays and fertile water areas, grows thick and dark in color. Artificially cultivated on wood, bamboo and other attachments.

[Properties] Identification of properties (1) The body of Gracilaria truea is purple-brown, light purple-brown or slightly yellow-green. The main branches are slender cylindrical, about 2mm in diameter, with irregular branches, alternate or eccentric, of varying lengths, and slightly constricted at the base. The holdfast is disc-shaped. It has a fishy smell and a salty taste.

[Chemical composition] 1. Gracilaria contains agar, which can be hydrolyzed into galactose, 6-O-methylgalactose, 3,6-anhydrogalactose after acid hydrolysis. It also contains R-phycoerythrin, boric acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, a new type of plant lectin: sulfated proteoglycan and prostaglandin.

[Pharmacological action] A new hemagglutinin was isolated from Agaricus lemaneiformis with a relative molecular mass of 49,000 and an isoelectric point of 3.8. Its red blood cell agglutination efficiency is rabbit>horse>guinea pig>goose. This coagulation is sensitive to heat but not to proteases or periodate. Not inhibited by general sugars.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet; salty; cold; non-toxic

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat; resolves phlegm and softens hard masses; promotes diuresis. Mainly for internal heat; phlegm accumulation, goiter; difficulty urinating

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 9-15g.

[Additional prescription] In the entry for the herb Miwu in the Compendium of Materia Medica, it says: "The herb grows in rivers, so it is called Jiang She."

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above is a brief introduction to Gracilaria. Through this we can understand that Gracilaria contains a variety of nutrients, which are very effective in treating and preventing some diseases. In daily life, everyone can eat it under the guidance of relevant people.