The efficacy and function of thorn grass

In daily life, people are not only very familiar with various foods, but also come into contact with a lot of medicines in daily life. Among them, prickly ash is a relatively common Chinese medicinal material. Given that there are still many people who don’t know much about prickly ash, let’s take a detailed look at it below.

【English name】 Pith of Himalayan Trevesia

[Other names] Dangnan, split-leaf Akebia, ash wood, dangao, Tianluo umbrella

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leaves of the Araliaceae plant.

[Original form] Evergreen small tree, 3-8m tall, with a breast diameter of about 15cm or more. The bark is light yellow-gray, with or without thorns; the branches are light yellow-brown, densely covered with brown hairs when young, and sparsely covered with short thorns. Simple leaves are alternate, petioles are 60-90cm long, usually sparsely covered with short spines, densely brown tomentose or glabrous or only hairy at the base, with stripes; stipules and petiole base are united to form a two-lobed sheath; leaves are large, leathery, 60-90cm in diameter, palmately 5-9 deeply lobed; lobes are lanceolate, often with small lobes; apex acuminate to long acuminate or punctate, margin coarsely serrated; scattered brown-yellow star-shaped scales on both sides or only on the underside; lateral veins are raised on both sides. The umbel is large, about 4.5cm in diameter, and gathers into a large panicle up to 50cm long; the peduncle is 5-10cm long, the pedicel is 1.5-3cm long, and there are no joints; the bracts are oblong, about 2.5cm long; the calyx has rusty hairs, and the edge has 10 unclear teeth; the petals are 6-10, oblong, hooked at the apex, often fused into a cap-like body, covered with rusty hairs on the outside, 5-6mm long, and the flowers are light yellow-green; the stamens are 6-10, and the filaments are about 6mm long; the ovary is inferior, 6mm long, and the flowers are light yellow-green; the stamens are 6-10, and the filaments are about 6mm long; the ovary is inferior, 6-10 chambers, and the style is fused into a column with 6-10 shallow ridges. The fruit is ovoid, 1-1.8 cm in diameter, with inconspicuous ridges; the style is persistent, containing 7-12 seeds. The flowering period is October, and the fruiting period is May to July of the following year.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in forests at an altitude of 1300-2000m.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The diameter of the complete leaf can reach 90cm, with 5-9 deeply palmate lobes, lanceolate, long pointed at the tip, large serrations on the edge, and scattered yellow stellate hairs on both sides or only on the underside; the petiole can reach 90cm in length and is often sparsely covered with short thorns. The leaves are leathery.

【Nature and flavor】 Slightly bitter; neutral

【Functions and indications】Removing blood stasis and relieving pain. Mainly used for injuries from falls; trauma; low back pain

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 9-15g; or soak in wine. For external use: "Appropriate amount, mash and apply.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": Leaves: Mainly used to treat injuries from falls. Medullary core: diuretic.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the introduction in the above article, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of the herb. I hope everyone can follow the doctor's advice when taking it, and at the same time pay attention to exercise to enhance their own resistance.