The efficacy and role of light flowers as medicine

Everyone is familiar with the use of dandelion as medicine. It has a long history and has good effects on regulating the body and treating diseases. It is a good choice for health preservation. Let’s take a look together.

[Other names] Swertia japonica, Gada, Dangyao, Water Coptis chinensis

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Swertia vulgaris, a plant of the Gentianaceae family.

[Original form] Annual herb, 20-70cm tall. The stem is erect, quadrangular, with narrow wings on the ridges, many branches, thin and weak, and obliquely ascending. Leaves are opposite; sessile; leaf blades are linear-lanceolate to linear, 1-4.5 cm long, 1.5-9 mm wide, tapering at both ends, entire; midrib is distinctly raised below. The inflorescence is clustered in a panicle, terminal and axillary; the calyx is green, with 5 sepals, the lobes are linear, 6-12mm long, with acute apex and obvious midrib on the back; the flower diameter is 1-1.5cm, the corolla is light blue with purple stripes, 5-lobed, the lobes are elliptic-lanceolate, 8-12mm long, acute apex, with 2 glandular crypts at the base, the glandular crypts are narrow and oblong, grooved, and with long soft pubescent tassels on the edges; there are 5 stamens, and the filaments are linear; the ovary is sessile, elliptic-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, the style is thick and short, the stigma is 2-lobed, and the lobes are semicircular. Capsule narrowly ovate, up to 1.2 cm long. The seeds are dark brown, oblong, with small tubercle-like protrusions on the surface. The flowering and fruiting period is August to October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown on shady and moist hillsides, under forests, beside fields or in valleys at an altitude of 150-2600m.

【Properties】 Identification of properties: The whole plant is 20-40cm long. The stem is slender, much-branched, 4-sided, light yellow, sometimes slightly purple-brown. Leaves are opposite and mostly wrinkled. The complete leaves are lanceolate or oblong, 2-4cm long, 3-10mm wide, with pointed apex, cuneate base, entire margin and sessile. Cymes are sometimes visible at the top or in the leaf axils. The corolla is light blue-purple, deeply lobed into 5 parts, with 2 glands on the inner side of the base and fringe-like hairs on the edge. It has a faint smell and a slightly bitter taste.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; cold

【Meridian】 Liver; stomach; large intestine

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies; promotes dampness and strengthens the stomach. Mainly used for osteomyelitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, conjunctivitis, hepatitis, indigestion, dysentery, carbuncle, scabies, and snake bites

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 5-15g; or grind into powder and drink with water. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application; or mash the juice and apply externally.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the detailed introduction of the herb Dictamni in this article, we can learn about the related effects and consumption methods of the herb Dictamni. The value of dandelion as medicine can be seen from its efficacy, which fully reflects the importance of dandelion as medicine.