The efficacy and function of stone longevity

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

[Other names] Dan grass, longevity grass, Dansha grass, Shengji grass, stone beads, rock duckweed, pig hair seven, water pig hair seven, pig bristle grass, pig hair tendon grass

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Adiantum monocotyledon of the Adiantum family.

【Original morphology】Plant height 16-30cm. The rhizome is horizontal and is covered with purple-brown, linear-lanceolate scales along with the base of the petiole. Leaves are close together or scattered; petiole is 8-12cm long, slightly flat on the ventral side, dark brown to purple-brown, shiny; leaf blade is thinly leathery, glabrous, narrowly ovate, 14-20cm long, 6-8cm wide, and gradually pointed at the apex. Base rounded cuneate, tripinnate; pinnae 8-12 pairs, alternate, obliquely spreading, petiolate, ovate, lower ones 4-5.5cm long, 2-2.5cm wide, bipinnate; pinnae 1-4 pairs, petioles slender, triangular-ovate, lower ones 1.5-2cm long, 1-1.5cm wide, monopinnate; terminal pinnae 1 pair, alternate, flat, short-stalked, inverted triangular-ovate or fan-shaped, 5-8mm long, 4-8mm wide, rounded with blunt teeth at apex, base cuneate to rounded cuneate, terminal pinnae obovate slightly larger; veins are multi-branched dichotomously, reaching the serrated tips of pinnae, obvious on both sides. The sori are nearly circular, dorsally located in the notch at the pinnae tip, with one sori per pinna; the sori cover is nearly circular or oblong, reddish brown, entire or wavy, and persistent.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing beside creeks under forests at an altitude of about 800m.

【Chemical composition】 The whole plant contains adianene, adian-5-ene-ozonide, 7-ferene, filicene, hydroxyadiantone, adiantone, hyperin, astragalin and prunin.

【Nature and flavor】 Salty; slightly cold; slightly toxic

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and resolves phlegm; detoxifies. Mainly used for lung heat cough; cold and fever; carbuncle and furuncle

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 9-15g. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

[Additional prescription] "Compendium of Materia Medica": "It does not wither in the four seasons, so it is called longevity." It also grows mostly on rocks, so it is called stone longevity. Dancao and Danshacao are both named because they have reddish-brown sporangia on the back of their leaves. It is called "pig hair" or "pig bristle" because its petioles are slender and dark brown, and its base and rhizome are covered with purple-brown, hair-like scales.

[Various Comments] "Newly Revised Materia Medica" states: "Nowadays, people in the market use (Shuling) tendon grass to make it. Its leaves are similar to those of Amaranthus, and its stems are thin, strong and purple. This is what Taichang uses now."

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Shi Changsheng is a medicinal material that has existed for a long time. It is recorded in many Chinese medicine books, which shows that Shi Changsheng does have good medicinal value.