The efficacy and function of yellow thorn skin

Phellodendron chinense is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine and is very helpful for many diseases. Below we will briefly introduce the yellow thorn bark.

【Other name】 Yellow three-thorn bark

[Source] It is the stem bark of Berberis spicata, a plant of the Berberidaceae family . Between April and May, when buds and leaves begin to sprout, cut off the shorter stems, scrape off the rough bark, remove the wood core, take out the yellow cortex and phloem, and dry them in the sun.

[Original form] Deciduous shrub, about 2 meters high. Old branches are gray-yellow with sparse, tiny wart-like protrusions, and the thorns are often solitary or thornless. The leaves are thick, nearly circular, rectangular or broadly elliptical, 3 to 6 cm long, 2.5 to 4 cm wide, with obtuse tips, rounded bases, and thorny serrations on the edges. They are dark yellow-green above and bright yellow-green below, without white powder; petioles are usually 2 to 4 cm long. The raceme has 15 to 30 flowers, and the length including the peduncle is 3.5 to 6 cm; the flowers are yellow, about 5 to 6 mm in diameter; there are 6 sepals in 2 whorls; the petals are obovate, 3 mm long; there are 6 stamens; and the ovary has 1 to 2 ovules. The infructescence is erect; the berries are oval, 6 to 7 mm long, about 5 mm in diameter, red, and without white powder.

[Habitat distribution] Grown in mountain thickets. Distributed in Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei, Henan and Hebei.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter, cold.

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and dampness, purges fire and detoxifies. It is used to treat heat dysentery with bloody stool, jaundice caused by damp heat, swelling and pain in the lower limbs, hot flashes and night sweats, eye pain caused by wind and fire, mouth erosions, tongue sores, mastitis and the initial stage of carbuncles.

[Additional prescription] ① Treating heat dysentery with blood in stool: 1.5 qian of Phellodendron chinense bark and 3 qian of red peony root. Decoction in water.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From the Handbook of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines in Qinghai

Through the introduction in the above article, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of Phellodendron chinense. This is a medicinal material we are very familiar with, but it has many medicinal properties and functions. Therefore, I hope everyone will consume it based on their own situation.