The efficacy and function of variegated arrowroot

There are many kinds of common Chinese medicinal materials in life. Many people don’t know how to choose when using them, such as variegated arrowroot. Therefore, before choosing, you need to have a certain understanding of its efficacy and dosage. So do you know what the efficacy and function of variegated arrowroot are?

【English name】 Twocolor Arrowroot, rhizome of Twocolor Arrowroot

[Source] Medicinal material source: The rhizome of the variegated arrowroot plant of the Marantaceae family.

[Original form] Variegated arrowroot is a perennial herb with a short plant, 25-40cm tall. There are tubers at the base. Leaves are alternate; petiole about 2.5cm long, pulvinus about 5mm long; leaf blades are small round, elliptical to ovate, 7-12cm long, 5-7cm wide, rounded at the tip with a small tip, round or heart-shaped base, more or less wavy edges, leaf surface is convex green, with dark brown spots on both sides of the midrib, and the back is pink-green to light purple. The raceme is solitary, with a peduncle 6-10cm long; there are 2-4 bracts, lanceolate, 2.5-3cm long; there are 3 pairs of flowers in each bract, and the pedicel is about the same length as the bract; the sepals are about 5mm long; the corolla is white, with a tube 4mm long, lanceolate lobes, and the lobes are about 8mm; the two sterile stamens in the outer whorl are larger, petal-like, obovate, slightly concave at the apex, white with bluish-purple spots and lines; the sterile stamens in the inner whorl are very small. Flowering period: summer and autumn.

[Habitat distribution] It is cultivated in Guangdong, Guangxi and other places in my country. Native to Brazil.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; pungent; cold; slightly toxic

【Meridian】 Heart meridian

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies; disperses stagnation and reduces swelling. Mainly used for carbuncle, sore, unknown swelling, traumatic injury, blood stasis, swelling and pain

【Usage and Dosage】 For external use: appropriate amount, crush the fresh product and apply it. For internal use: decoction, 3-6g.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": Rhizome, slightly bitter, pungent, cold in nature, slightly toxic. It has the function of clearing heat and reducing swelling.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above is an introduction to variegated arrowroot. Through this introduction we can understand that variegated arrowroot has high medicinal value and can effectively relieve many diseases, but remember not to take it indiscriminately.