The efficacy and function of thorn fruit

In our lives, the prickly ash fruit has attracted our attention because of its extremely high medicinal value. Now let’s take a closer look at what is the thorn fruit?

[Other names] Tiger thorn, embroidery needle, thorny sandalwood, three needles

[Source] Medicinal material source: The root of the plant Artemisia argyi of the Apocynaceae family.

[Original form] An upright shrub, about 3m high. It has long and sharp spines, which are single or forked at the top. Leaves are opposite; petiole is 2-3mm long; leaves are leathery, ovate to elliptic, 2-5.5cm long, 1.2-2.5cm wide, with short acuminate or acute apex, rounded or cuneate base; veins are raised on the back. Flowers are arranged in cymes of 3-7, terminal or axillary, 5 in number; flowers are small and white; calyx lobes are lanceolate, 2.5mm long and about 1mm wide, pubescent inside, without glands at base; corolla is high-footed saucer-shaped, with lobes up to 7mm long and about 1.5mm wide, corolla tube up to 1cm long, and the corolla tube where stamens are attached is swollen; stamens are attached to the upper part of the corolla tube, anthers are pointed at the tip, and the base is round and earless; ovary is 2-chambered, style is oblong, stigma is oblong, and 2-lobed at the tip. The berry is spherical or oval, 5-8mm long and 4-6mm in diameter, containing 2 shield-shaped and wrinkled seeds, which are purple-black when mature and about 5mm long. The flowering period is from March to May, and the fruiting period is from October to December.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows in sandy shrubs.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; Pungent; Neutral

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies; reduces inflammation and relieves pain. Mainly used for icteric hepatitis; stomachache; rheumatic joint pain; acute conjunctivitis; pharyngitis; periodontitis; lymphadenitis

[Usage and Dosage] For oral administration: decoction, 10-15g, large dose can be 30g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

From the above we can see that the Chinese medicine prickly ash fruit has very high medicinal value, so we can consider using prickly ash fruit in our lives.