The efficacy and function of red fennel root

Fennel root is a common Chinese medicine. It can be used for medicinal purposes as well as for food. The effects and functions of fennel root are quite comprehensive. Let's take a look at it together.

[Other names] Old root (from "Zhejiang Tianmu Yam Plant Catalogue"), star anise root (from "Zhejiang Folk Commonly Used Herbs").

[Source] It is the root or root bark of the Magnoliaceae plant Fennel . It can be harvested throughout the year. After digging up the roots, remove the soil and impurities, slice them and dry them in the sun. The root bark is obtained by digging up the roots, chopping them into small pieces and drying them in the sun until they are half dry. Use a knife to split the bark and remove the woody part.

[Original form] Aniseed, also known as: mountain wood crab, wood crab, mountain osmanthus, fennel (Zhejiang Tianmu Yam Plant Records), wood crab firewood, wild fennel, fragrant crab, wood crab tree, yellow nan, iron bitter powder, pain incense, big fragrant tree, mountain fennel (Zhejiang Folk Commonly Used Herbs).

[Habitat distribution] Growing in mixed woods on both sides of moist valleys. Distributed in provinces and regions south of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

[Properties] The root is cylindrical, often irregularly curved, usually 2 to 3 cm in diameter, with a rough surface, brown in color, with obvious transverse cracks and longitudinal wrinkles caused by shrinkage. A few corks are easy to peel off, revealing the brown bark. It is hard and not easy to break. The cross section is light brown and the periphery is reddish brown. The xylem occupies most of the root and concentric rings (annual rings) can be seen. It has a fragrant smell and a spicy taste. The root bark is in irregular pieces of varying sizes, slightly curled, 1 to 2 mm thick, brown in appearance, with longitudinal wrinkles and a few transverse cracks. The inner surface is reddish brown and smooth; with longitudinal texture. The texture is hard and brittle, the cross section is slightly neat, and the smell and taste are the same as the root. Both the root bark and the root peel should be dry and free of mud.

[Preparation] Wash, soak for a while, take out and wait until it is fully moistened, cut the roots obliquely into slices, cut the root bark obliquely into shreds, and dry them in the sun.

[Properties and flavors] Jinhua's "Selected Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicine Single Formulas": "bitter, warm, and highly toxic."

【Functions and indications】 Dispel wind and dredge meridians, disperse blood stasis and relieve pain. Treat injuries from falls, rheumatism, pain from carbuncles and swellings.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 1 to 2 qian; grind into powder, 1 to 3 fen.

【Note】 Pregnant women should not take this medicine; those with Yin deficiency without blood stasis should use with caution.

[Additional prescription] ① Treat injuries from falls, swelling and pain caused by blood stasis: ㈠ One to two qian of red fennel root bark. Decoction in water, add rice wine and brown sugar, and take once in the morning and evening. (Commonly used folk herbs in Zhejiang) ㈡ Add fresh root bark or tree bark of red fennel to rice wine or salt, mash it and apply it to the affected area. (Zhejiang Tianmu Yam Plant Records)

[Clinical Application] Treatment of joint or muscle rheumatic pain: Take red fennel root bark and make it into a 5% injection solution. Inject it directly into the painful area (do not inject it into the joint cavity), 0.5 to 2 ml each time, once every 1 to 2 days, generally 3 to 7 times as a course of treatment. A total of 541 cases of joint and muscle pain caused by rheumatism or trauma were treated, with 295 cases cured, 128 cases showing marked effects, 70 cases improving, and 48 cases showing no effect, with an effective rate of over 90%. It has been observed that red fennel injection is suitable for rheumatic pain that is classified as cold in traditional Chinese medicine, but not for patients with heat syndrome, and should not be used in patients with active rheumatic disease with red and swollen joints, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate or anti-"O" levels. Generally, there will be slight pain at the injection site on the day, the pain will intensify on the second day, and then gradually decrease from the third day onwards. The pain will disappear after 3 to 5 injections. The greater the pain aggravation response, the better the efficacy.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Zhejiang Tianmu Yam Plant Catalogue".

Above we introduced what red fennel root is. We know that red fennel root has very comprehensive effects and functions, so we can use red fennel root as a means of regulating the body in daily life.