The efficacy and function of Hexuexiang

Hexuexiang is one of the common traditional Chinese medicines in our country. It has a very long history of medicinal use and is recorded in many ancient medical books. Hexuexiang has good edible and medicinal value. Let’s take a look.

【Other names】 Paicao, Nanpaicao

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Pseudobulbushes scabra of the Primulaceae family.

[Original form] Perennial herb, plant height 10-40cm. Slightly fragrant after drying. The stem is solitary or in clusters of several, nearly erect or inclined, often procumbent at the base to bear roots, cylindrical or slightly ridged at the top, sparsely covered with short-stalked glands. Leaves are alternate; petioles are 2-15mm long, densely covered with short-stalked glands; leaves are usually born in the upper half of the whole and slightly densely gathered towards the top, the lower leaves are degenerated into scales or only have leaf scars, leaf blades are lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 4-8 (-13) cm long, 1-2 (-4) cm wide, with acute or short acuminate apex, cuneate or nearly rounded base, slightly wavy margins, easily turning dark brown on the upper side, pale green on the lower side, densely covered with purple small glandular dots connected in patches, and reticulate veins are obvious on both sides. Flowers are solitary in the axillary or sometimes 2-3 flowers are born at the ends of undeveloped short branches in the leaf axils; the flowers are slender, 1.5-4.5cm long; the calyx is 5-lobed, nearly reaching the base, the lobes are ovate, and the apex is gradually pointed; the corolla is yellow, 8-15cm long, 5-parted, the lobes are narrowly oblong, about 4mm wide, and obtuse at the apex; the stamens are about 6mm long, the base of the filaments is connected to form a shallow cup and fused to the base of the corolla, the separation part is very short, and the apical pores of the anthers are dehiscent. The capsule is spherical, whitish, 5-6 mm in diameter, and often has irregular valves. The flowering period is May, and the fruiting period is August-September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing under forests and beside valley streams at an altitude of 1200-2300m.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; sweet; neutral

【Meridian】 Liver; Lung

【Functions and indications】 Soothes wind and clears lungs; relieves cough and asthma. Mainly cold; cough; asthma

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

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": Whole plant: sweet, aromatic, neutral in nature. It has the effects of dispelling wind and promoting qi, unblocking menstruation and activating blood circulation, relieving inflammation and relieving cough, reducing fever and relieving pain. Tonifying function. Used for qi and blood deficiency, neurasthenia, acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma, irregular menstruation, colds, and coughs.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Above, we introduced Hexuexiang and its characteristics. We can know that Hexuexiang has very good efficacy and functions, and it has played a therapeutic and auxiliary therapeutic effect on many diseases. I hope this will be helpful to everyone’s health.