The efficacy and function of stone toad

Stone toad is a traditional Chinese medicine. In addition to the effects we know in daily life, stone toad actually has many other effects and functions. Let’s take a look at them right away.

【Other name】 Trichosanthes kirilowii

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb with roots of the plant Trichosanthes kirilowii of the Cucurbitaceae family.

【Original form】 Herbaceous vine. Climbing; stems slender, with longitudinal ridges and grooves, glabrous or pubescent only at nodes. The petiole is 2.5-6cm long, with longitudinal stripes and glabrous; the finger-shaped compound leaves have 3-5 leaflets; the leaflets are membranous or nearly papery, the central leaflet is often lanceolate or oblong-oblanceolate, 9-12cm long, 2.5-3.5cm wide, gradually pointed at both ends, with sparse fine teeth on the margins, the outer two leaflets are nearly rhombic or unequally ovate, with short stiff hairs on the upper side when young, and then become white round rough spots, the back side is light green, glabrous, with granular protrusions, the main vein and lateral veins are slightly concave on the upper side, densely covered with short soft hairs, the back side is convex, with white round rough spots, and the fine veins are reticular. Tendrils long, slender, striate, bifurcated. The male raceme is 14-19cm long, with peduncle and pedicel covered with brown short soft hairs and longitudinal grooves, and 8-20 flowers above the middle; bracts are obovate or rhombus-ovate, 10-15mm long, about 8mm wide, covered with short soft hairs, gradually pointed at the apex, gradually narrowed at the base, torn above the middle or with irregular sharp teeth; pedicel is 4mm long; calyx tube is narrowly funnel-shaped, 2-4cm long, 7-10mm in diameter at the upper part, lobes are lanceolate, 7-10mm long, 2-3.5mm wide, 8-12mm wide, with tassels at the apex; female flowers are solitary, calyx tube is cylindrical, about 3mm long, about 5mm in diameter, calyx teeth and corolla are the same as male flowers; ovary is ovate, 1.5cm long, 8mm in diameter, and glabrous. The fruit is spherical, 5-6cm in diameter, orange-yellow, smooth and hairless; the fruit stalk is 1 (-3) cm long. The seeds are ovate, swollen, gray-brown, 10-12mm long, about 8mm wide, with a rounded apex and a flattened, triangular hilum without edges or lines. The flowering period is from June to August, and the fruiting period is from July to December.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in sparse forests, thickets or roadside grasslands in valleys at an altitude of 200-1500m.

【Chemical composition】 The seeds contain fatty acids, including lauric acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid. It also contains hemagglutinin.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; cold

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies. Cough with thick phlegm; sore throat; chest tightness; constipation; carbuncle, boil, and furuncle; poisonous snake bite

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 10-15g. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash fresh product for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above is an introduction to some relevant knowledge about the stone toad. Do you have a better understanding of it? I hope everyone can apply stone toads in their lives to serve our health.