The efficacy and function of Dabogudan

The traditional Chinese medicine Da Bogudan is already very familiar to most people. But in fact, not many people know the effects and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine Da Bogudan, so let’s talk about it below.

[Alias] Duck flower, forced tree (Compendium of Materia Medica), big soul-returning (Lingnan Collection of Medicinal Herbs), big bone joint (Luchuan Materia Medica), big comfrey, life-saving king (Nanning City Pharmacopoeia), big bone joint, duck green, October green (Guangzhou Army's "Handbook of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines"), white crane foot, big bone joint grass, big bone pond (Guangzhou Air Force's "Handbook of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines"), large-leaf comfrey, black-leaf comfrey (Color Atlas of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines)

[Source] The stems and leaves of the Acanthus nigra plant of the Acanthaceae family. Harvest in summer and autumn and sun-dried.

[Original morphology] Evergreen shrub, up to 2.5 meters tall, with bald branches except for the inflorescence which is slightly hairy, and thick, cylindrical branches. The leaves are opposite, elliptical, 10-15 cm long, 4.5-6 cm wide, obtuse at the apex, entire, and gradually narrowing at the base to form a short petiole. The spike inflorescence is terminal, 7 to 10 cm long; there are many broad ovate bracts, about 1.2 cm long and 10 mm wide, green, slightly hairy, with 3 to 4 flowers inside; the bracteoles are very small or narrow; there are 5 sepals, about 4 mm long; the corolla is 2-lipped, 1.4 to 1.6 cm long, white with red spots, the upper lip is 2-lobed, the lower lip is larger, short 3-lobed, and the middle cleft is wider; there are 2 stamens, inserted in the throat of the corolla, protruding; the style is linear, short 2-lobed. Capsule ovate or elliptical, about 8 mm long, hairy. Flowering period: spring.

[Habitat distribution] It is mostly planted in gardens, or grows in bushes near villages and in the wilderness. Distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi and other places. Produced in Guangdong and Guangxi.

[Properties] Dry branches and leaves, stems and branches are club-shaped, about 0.5 to 1 cm thick, gray-brown or yellow-brown, often with dust-like fine spots, smooth with slightly longitudinal wrinkles and dot-like protruding lenticels, and enlarged nodes; the bark is thin, the wood is milky white, the pith is very large, spongy, and white; the young branches are slightly flattened. The leaves are opposite, leathery, slightly deciduous, gray-green, dark brown or green-yellow, oblong, and bare on both sides. It has a faint odor and a light taste with a slight bean flavor. It is better if the branches are not too thick and have many leaves.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter and pungent, neutral.

【Functions and indications】Promote blood circulation, eliminate rheumatism. Treat injuries caused by falls, rheumatism, lung abscess, and mastitis.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 0.5 to 1 liang. For external use: mash and apply.

【Note】 Guangzhou Air Force's "Handbook of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines": "Use with caution when taking internally during pregnancy."

[Additional prescription] For treating bruises: Da Huan Hun, Tou Gu Xiao, Ze Lan, Xue Jian Chou, and Jin Niu Cao. Decoction together. (Guangdong Traditional Chinese Medicine)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Records of Collecting Medicinal Herbs in Lingnan"

Through the detailed introduction above, we have a good understanding of the efficacy and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine Dabogudan. I hope this can be helpful to everyone.