The efficacy and function of Hongchuanwu

The environment is now seriously deteriorating and various diseases are emerging one after another. In order to prevent the occurrence of various diseases and ensure good health, many people choose to enhance their immunity through diet. As a food ingredient that can fundamentally regulate various functions of the body, Chinese medicinal materials have received widespread attention. Today I will introduce to you the medicinal herb Hongchuanwu.

[Other names] Sheep-horn Gastrodia elata, yellow medicine root

[Source] Medicinal material source: The tuber of the plant Herba Cyperi of the Asteraceae family.

[Original form] Double-tongued crab grass is a perennial herb, up to 150cm tall. The stem is very thick. The stem is stout and glabrous except for the inflorescence. The lower leaves often fall off during flowering; the leaves are pentagonal or triangular, truncated at the base or with small pointed teeth on the margin, sparsely covered with rough short hairs or nearly hairless on the surface, and sparsely covered with short soft hairs along the ground veins on the bottom. The middle leaves are 8-15cm long, equal in width to length, with petioles 3-5cm long, and the upper leaves gradually become smaller. There are many capitulums, arranged in large panicles at the terminal or axillary locations of upper leaves; the peduncle is 3-5mm long, with 2-3 linear-lanceolate bracts, and the axis of the inflorescence and peduncle are pubescent with yellow-brown short hairs; the involucre is narrow cylindrical, 8-10mm long; the bracts are 4-5, linear-oblong; there are 4 flowers, 2 ligulate flowers, with linear yellow ligules, twice as long as the involucre; there are 2 tubular flowers. Achenes are cylindrical with white pappus.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows on forest edges and hillside grasslands.

[Properties] Identification: Oblong or spindle-shaped, slightly flat and curved, 3-9cm long and 1.5-2.5cm in diameter. There are remains of stem base at the top. The surface is gray-brown or yellow-brown, with obvious segments, irregular longitudinal grooves and wrinkles, and visible root marks. It is hard and not easy to break. The cross section is grayish white or yellowish white, semi-horny, and sometimes hollow. Slight smell, slightly sweet taste.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; warm; toxic

【Functions and indications】 Expel wind and dampness; dispel cold and dredge meridians. Mainly used for rheumatic back pain; rheumatic paralysis; hemiplegia; headache; head sore and baldness; traumatic injury

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 10-15g; or soak in wine. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Hongchuanwu is often used in the treatment of some diseases. It can be made into a compound prescription or used alone as needed. However, Hongchuanwu should not be consumed blindly to avoid adverse effects on the body.