The efficacy and function of Gassho

Gassho is a very common Chinese medicinal material in daily life. It has high medicinal and nutritional value to the human body, and it is not too difficult to purchase. Let’s analyze several aspects of Gassho below.

[Other names] Heye (Honghe Chinese Herbal Medicine), Wushihe, Duishi Jiucao (Guizhou Medicinal Plant Catalogue).

[Source] It is the whole herb of Polygala tenuifolia, a plant of the Polygalaceae family. Harvested in summer and autumn. Wash and dry.

[Original form] Perennial subshrub. The stem is erect, 30 to 50 cm high, with many branches and young branches covered with long white hairs. Simple leaves are opposite, ovate, 1.5-2 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide, with rounded or slightly concave tip, shallowly cordate base, entire margin, covered with white hairs on both sides, mostly on the veins and margins, with only the midrib prominently raised on the back of the leaf; almost sessile. There are 2 to 4 flowers growing laterally in the leaf axils about 1 cm apart, covered by opposite leaves, symmetrical on both sides, and green-white in color.

[Habitat distribution] Growing in sparse woods and grass on hillsides. Distributed in Yunnan, Guizhou and other places.

[Properties and flavors] "Red River Chinese Herbal Medicine": "bitter, cool."

【Function】 ① "Honghe Chinese Herbal Medicine": "clears heat and detoxifies."

[Additional prescription] ① For the treatment of laryngitis, tonsillitis and lymphadenitis: Take 3 grams of Gasseloma, decoct and drink.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

Gassho is a medicinal material that has existed for a long time. It is recorded in many Chinese medicine books, which shows that Gassho does have good medicinal value.