The efficacy and function of red nepeta

Many people are not very clear about the effects and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine red schizonepeta. Let’s take a look below.

[Other name] Patchouli

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Zoostamens of the Lamiaceae family.

[Original form] Zoostamens, perennial herb, 50-80cm tall. The stem is erect, branched at the base, quadrangular, smooth and hairless. The leaves have short petioles, 0.3-1cm long; the leaf blades are ovate-lanceolate to oblong-linear, 7-13cm long, 1.3-3.5cm wide, apex acuminate, base cuneate-linear, 7-13cm long, 1.3-1.5cm wide, apex acuminate, base cuneate-decurrent, margin with sparse teeth, glabrous on both sides, with 6-8 pairs of lateral veins. The 2 flowers of the cyme are far apart and open to one side, most of them form terminal and axillary loose racemes; bracts are about 5mm long and fall off early; calyx is 4.7mm long, glabrous on the outside, with a thin throat and a hairy ring inside, 5 calyx teeth, opening in a two-lipped manner, with 3 teeth on the upper lip, the middle tooth is extra large, round, 3mm in diameter, the lateral teeth are ovate, small, attached to both sides of the base of the middle tooth, and the lower lip has two teeth, lanceolate; corolla is purple-red, 11mm long, sparsely covered with soft hairs and light yellow glandular dots on the outside, glabrous on the inside, the crown tube is up to 8mm long, the upper lip is 2-lobed, the lobes are obliquely triangular-ovate, and the interlobal notch is as long as 1/2 of the upper lip, the lower lip is 3-lobed, the middle lobe is ovate-spatulate, and the lateral lobes are oblong, there are 4 stamens, the front pair is slightly longer, the anthers are 2-chambered, reniform, the style is longer than the stamens, and the tip is unequally 2-lobed; ovary is spherical. The nutlets are obovate, about 1 mm long. The flowering period is from June to August, and the fruiting period is from August to November.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in forests and thickets on hillsides at an altitude of 740-2550 meters.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; bitter; cool

【Functions and indications】It can release heat and clear away toxicity and dampness; it can disperse blood stasis and reduce swelling. Mainly used for colds, fever, headache, lung abscess, hepatitis, edema, and painful stranguria

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 3-10g. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application; or decoct it in water for washing.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

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