The efficacy and function of willow parasites

There are many kinds of common Chinese medicinal materials in life. Many people don’t know how to choose when using them, such as willow parasites. Therefore, before choosing, you need to have a certain understanding of its effects and dosage. So do you know what the effects and functions of willow parasites are?

[Other names] Willow parasite, miscellaneous parasite, parasitic bag, pepper parasite, mulberry parasite, torch fruit tree parasite

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leafy stems and branches of the parasitic plant Willow Leaf Blunt Fruit of the Loranthaceae family.

【Original form】 Shrub, 0.5-1m high. The whole plant is hairless. Biennial branches are black and shiny. Leaves are alternate, sometimes nearly opposite or several clustered on short branches, leathery; petiole 2-4mm long; leaf blade ovate, oblong, oblong or lanceolate, 3-5cm long, 1.5-2cm wide, obtuse at apex, cuneate at base, slightly decurrent; 3-4 pairs of lateral veins. Umbel, 1-2 axillary or born in the axils of fallen leaves of branches, with 2-4 flowers, peduncle 1-2mm long or almost absent, pedicel 4-6mm long; bracts ovate, about 2mm long; flowers red; receptacle elliptic, about 2.5mm long; epicalyx annular, entire or with 4 shallow teeth, rarely with tear-like awns; corolla bud tubular, 2-3cm long, slightly curved, elliptic at the top, with 4 lobes, lanceolate, 6-9mm long, reflexed; 4 stamens; style linear, stigma capitate. The berries are oval, 8-10 mm long, 4 mm in diameter, and yellow or orange. The flowering period is from February to July, and the fruiting period is from May to September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in plateau or mountain broad-leaved forests or mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests at an altitude of 1500-3500m. It parasitizes on plants such as mountain ash, hawthorn, cherry, pear, peach, mulberry, or willow, birch, oak, maple, rhododendron, and rarely on Yunnan petroleum fir.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The stems and branches are slightly prismatic, leafless or slightly leafy, branched, about 20 cm long, the diameter of old branches is 6-8 mm, and the diameter of twigs and branch tips is 3-4 mm. The surface is smooth and slightly shiny. The old branches are dark brown or gray-brown, the twigs are purple-brown, with yellow-brown circular lenticels and fine and sparse longitudinal wrinkles and cracks, and protruding branch marks and leaf marks. It is hard and easy to break, with an uneven cross section. The cortex is thin and brown in color. The xylem is broad, accounting for 4/5 of the stem radius, and is yellowish white with radial texture. The pith is brown. The leaves are easy to fall off, alternate or nearly opposite on long branches, clustered on short branches, and often broken; intact ones are oblong or oblong to broadly lanceolate, 2-5m long, 1-2cm wide, obtuse or nearly rounded at the apex, gradually narrowed at the base, slightly decurrent, with short petioles; yellowish brown or dark brown, entire, with 3-4 pairs of lateral veins, slightly obvious, glabrous above and below, papery and brittle. The flowers and fruits often fall off. The buds are tubular, slightly curved, oval at the top and acute at the end; the fruits are oblong, yellowish brown, blunt at the top and blunt at the base. It has a faint smell and tastes slightly astringent and bitter.

【Nature and flavor】 slightly bitter; sweet; neutral

【Meridian】 Liver; Kidney

【Functions and indications】Nourishes the liver and kidneys; eliminates rheumatism; stops bleeding; and stabilizes the fetus. Mainly used for dizziness, pain in waist and knees, rheumatism and numbness, metrorrhagia, and restless fetus

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 10-15g; or soak in wine; or mash into juice; or stew with meat. For external use: take appropriate amount and wash with decoction.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above is a detailed description of the effects and eating methods of willow parasites. Medicines like willow parasites are very effective in treating diseases. However, it should be noted that when using willow parasites, they need to be used in moderation and should not be used too much, otherwise it will not be of any benefit to the body.