The efficacy and role of Yizhi

Alpinia oxyphylla is a medicinal herb that can treat many diseases. If consumed scientifically and healthily, it can bring great benefits to our physical health and disease treatment. Now let’s take a closer look at the effects and edible methods of Yizhi.

【English Name】 FRUCTUS ALPINIAE OXYPHYLLAE

【Other name】 Alpinia oxyphylla, Alpinia oxyphylla

[Source] This product is the dried mature fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq., a plant of the ginger family . The fruits are harvested when they turn from green to red in summer and autumn, and then sun-dried or dried at low temperature.

[Properties] This product is oval in shape, slightly pointed at both ends, 1.2 to 2 cm long and 1 to 1.3 cm in diameter. The surface is brown or gray-brown, with 13 to 20 longitudinal uneven ridges, with perianth remains at the top and fruit stalks often remaining at the base. The pericarp is thin and slightly tough, tightly attached to the seeds. The seeds are clustered together, with a septum dividing the seed cluster into three lobes, each with 6 to 11 seeds. The seeds are irregularly oblate with slightly blunt edges, about 3mm in diameter, gray-brown or gray-yellow in color, and covered with a light brown membranous aril; they are hard in texture and have white endosperm. It has a unique aroma and tastes spicy and slightly bitter.

【Identification】 (1) Cross-section of seeds of this variety: thin-walled cells of the aril sometimes remain. The epidermal cells of the testa are round, square or rectangular, slightly radially elongated, and have thicker walls; the hypodermis is a row of thin-walled cells containing yellow-brown substances; there is a row of oil cells, which are square or rectangular and contain yellow oil droplets; the pigment layer is several rows of yellow-brown cells, among which there are 1 to 3 rows of larger round oil cells containing yellow oil droplets; the endotesta is a row of palisade thick-walled cells, yellow-brown or reddish-brown, with extremely thick inner and side walls, a small cell cavity, and siliceous blocks. The endosperm cells are filled with starch masses composed of tiny starch granules. Endosperm cells contain fuzzy powder and fat droplets. Yellow-brown powder. The epidermal cells of the seed coat appear long and narrow in surface view, with a diameter of about 29 μm, slightly thick walls, and are often arranged vertically to the upper and lower layers of the hypodermal cells. The pigment layer cells are wrinkled, with unclear boundaries, containing reddish brown or dark brown substances, and often broken into irregular pigment blocks. Oil cells are square, rectangular, or scattered among the pigment layer cells. The thick-walled cells of the endocarp are yellow-brown or brown, polygonal in surface view, with thick walls, non-lignified, and containing siliceous blocks in the cell cavity; in cross section, the cells are in a row, palisade-like, with extremely thick inner and side walls, and the cell cavity is biased to the outside, containing siliceous blocks. The endosperm cells are filled with starch masses composed of tiny starch granules. Endosperm cells contain fuzzy powder and fat droplets.

[Content determination] Take seeds of this variety and determine the content according to the volatile oil determination method (Appendix Ⅹ D). The seeds of this variety must contain no less than 1.0% (ml/g) volatile oil.

[Processing] Alpinia oxyphylla kernel : remove impurities and shell. Crush when using.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy, warm.

[return through] return spleen and kidney meridians.

[Functions and indications] Warms the spleen and stops diarrhea, controls saliva, warms the kidneys, consolidates semen and reduces urination. It is used for diarrhea due to spleen cold, cold pain in the abdomen, excessive salivation, enuresis due to kidney deficiency, frequent urination, and leukorrhea.

【Usage and Dosage】 3～9g.

【Storage】Keep in a cool and dry place.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Pharmacopoeia

Based on the above summary, Yizhi still has certain pharmacological effects. What needs to be noted is that Yizhi should be consumed according to one's actual situation and not in excess.