The efficacy and function of Da Hong Pao [picture]

The development of Western medicine has brought some crises to traditional Chinese medicine. But traditional Chinese medicine still has many magical aspects. Let’s talk about the effects and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine Dahongpao [picture].

[Other names] Yamato red, rusty nail, oil root, flat soapberry

[Source] It is a plant of the genus Campylotropis hirtella (Franch.) Schindl. [Lespedeza hirtella Franch.] of the Leguminosae family, and its root is used as medicine. Dig up the roots in autumn, wash, slice and dry them.

[Original form] A small shrub, about 1 meter tall, covered with rusty stiff hairs all over. The roots are straight and long, up to 50 cm long, often with rusty oil spots and light red in cross section. The stem is erect and the branches are ridged. The trifoliate leaves are alternate; the petiole is 0.5-2 cm long, covered with stiff hairs, with two linear stipules at the base; the leaflets are leathery, triangular-ovate, 2.5-7 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, obtuse or slightly concave at the apex, broadly cuneate, shallowly cordate or nearly truncate at the base, with appressed stiff hairs on both sides. It blooms in summer and autumn, with axillary racemes or clustered into terminal panicles, each with more than ten flowers; the pedicels are about 5 mm long, jointed, and covered with stiff hairs; the calyx is 5-lobed, the lobes are lanceolate-subulate; the papilionate corolla is purple-red, about 1 cm long, the standard petal is elliptical, the keel petal is shorter than the standard petal and nearly the same length as the wing petals, and curved at the top. The pods are obliquely ovate, with only one pod node, about 6 mm long and 5 mm wide, covered with long soft hairs, and with obvious purple veins. Seeds oblong.

[Habitat distribution] It grows in grass on hillsides or under forests by streams. It is mainly produced in Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces.

【Nature and flavor】 Slightly bitter, astringent, warm.

【Functions and indications】Regulating menstruation and promoting blood circulation, relieving pain and astringing. Used for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, leucorrhea, stomachache; used externally to treat impetigo and burns.

[Usage and Dosage] 0.5-1 liang; For external use, roast the fresh root to extract the juice and apply it to the affected area.

[Additional prescription] 1. Amenorrhea: 1-2 liang of Dahongpao, appropriate amount of brown sugar, decocted in water and taken in 3 doses.

【Excerpt】 National Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicines

【Source】 Guizhou Folk Medicine

Now you know the function of Dahongpao [picture]. I didn’t know that Dahongpao [picture] was such a valuable thing before, which shows that our knowledge is not broad enough. So in the future life, learning more about it can be a good way to maintain health. In fact, if you want to maintain health, there is knowledge everywhere in life.