The efficacy and function of elm leaves

What are the effects of prickly elm leaves? As a traditional Chinese medicine, prickly elm leaves can not only be used to treat diseases, but can also be combined with some other medicinal materials to make medicinal food, which has a very good effect on regulating the human body. Today we will introduce the leaves of the elm.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leaves of Ulmus pumila of the Ulmaceae family.

[Original form] Deciduous tree, up to 10m tall. The bark is gray, rough and deeply grooved; the annual branches are densely covered with short hairs; the twigs have thick and long thorns, 1.5-8cm long, with light brown lenticels. Leaves are alternate; petioles are 1-4mm long, densely covered with short hairs; stipules fall off early; leaf blades are elliptical or elliptical-oblong, 2-6cm long, 1-3cm wide, gradually pointed and slightly rounded at both ends, with coarse serrations on the edges, covered with deciduous pubescence on the upper side, leaving round black indentations after the pubescence falls off, and sparse pubescence along the veins on the lower side, which gradually falls off later; variegated leaves and flowers open at the same time. Flowers are heterosexual (bisexual and unisexual flowers on the same plant), 1-4 flowers born in the bract axils of branchlets and the lower leaf axils; perianth is fused, 4-5-lobed in the upper part; stamens 4 (even 5), anthers 2-loculed; pistil skewed, styles 2. The samaras are yellow-green, flat, with crooked wings, two lobes at the top to form a chicken's beak, and a persistent calyx at the base. The flowering period is April-May, and the fruiting period is July-September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown at the foot of mountains and on hillside roadsides, usually planted near villages.

[Properties] Identification of properties: This product is oval or oval-oblong, 2-6cm long and 1-3cm wide; petiole is 1-4mm long; tip is slightly obtuse, base is rounded or broadly cuneate, edge has coarse serrations; the upper surface is dark green, sparsely covered with soft hairs or with black circular indentations, the lower surface is yellow-green, sparsely covered with soft hairs or hairless. Slight odor, light taste.

【Nature and flavor】 Light; slightly cold

【Functions and indications】Diuresis and detumescence; detoxification. Mainly used for edema, sores, swelling and poison, and snake bites

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 3-6g. For external use: Take appropriate amount and mash the fresh leaves for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above introduces some basic knowledge about prickly elm leaves. I believe many people will have a better understanding of prickly elm leaves after reading it. There are many other medicinal herbs that we often come into contact with in our daily lives. If you have time, you might as well learn more about them.