The efficacy and function of willow herb

Everyone is familiar with epiphyllum, but some people are relatively unfamiliar with it. In fact, willow herb is a relatively common Chinese medicinal material. So what exactly does willowherb do?

【English name】 Epilobium hirsutum L.

[Other names] Earth Mother Pregnant Grass Flower, Water Lilac Flower

[Source] Medicinal material source: It is the chemical substance of the Onagraceae plant.

[Original form] Perennial herb, about 1m tall. The stems are densely covered with spreading white long soft hairs and short pubescent hairs. The lower leaves are opposite, and the upper leaves are alternate; sessile, with extended leaves, slightly clasping the stem, and covered with soft hairs on both sides; the leaf blade is oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, 4-13cm long, 7-17mm wide, cuneate at the base, and with fine teeth on the margin. The flowers are bisexual, solitary in the leaf axils, light purple, 1-1.2 cm long; the calyx tube is cylindrical, with 4 lobes, 7-9 mm long, and hairy on the outside; there are 4 petals, broadly obovate, 1-1.2 cm long, 5-8 mm wide, with a concave tip and 2 lobes; there are 8 stamens, 4 long and 4 short; the ovary is inferior and the stigma is 4-lobed, short rod-shaped to rod-shaped. The capsule is cylindrical, with 4 edges, 4 cracks, 4-7cm long, covered with long soft hairs and short glandular hairs; the fruit stalk is 0.5-2cm long, densely covered with small papillae. The seeds are oval, brown, with a tuft of white seeds at the tip. Flowering period is from April to November.

[Chemical composition] The aerial parts of willow herb contain gallic acid, 3-methoxygallic acid, protocatechuic acid and hyperoside. In addition, this product also contains kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, myricetin rubinoside and isovalonic acid. In addition, the leaves and flowers contain palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, oleanolic acid, crategolic acid, tormentic acid, arjunolic acid and 23-hydroxytormentic acid.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; slightly sweet; cool in nature

【Meridian】 Liver and stomach meridians

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and relieves pain; regulates menstruation and astringes leucoderma. Mainly used for toothache; sore throat; red and swollen eyes; irregular menstruation; excessive leucorrhea

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 9-15g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Above we introduced what willow herb is, and we also learned about the efficacy and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine willow herb. We know that the efficacy of willow herb is very powerful, and everyone can eat some willow herb for health preservation.