The efficacy and function of Lepidium melongena

Nowadays, our living standards are constantly improving, but our health quality is constantly declining. Unscientific diet poses a potential threat to our bodies. Many Chinese medicinal herbs can regulate and improve our bodies. Here I would like to introduce you to the herb Lepidium melongena.

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb and seeds of the cruciferous plant Terrestris terrestris.

[Original morphology] Eupatorium domesticum is an annual herb, 20-40m tall, usually covered with blue-grey powdery frost. Stem erect, simple, often branched at the top. Basal leaves are obovate-elliptical, pinnately lobed or shallowly lobed once or twice, with a few lobes serrated or entire; stem leaves are linear, pinnately lobed, 2-3cm long, with acute apex; leaves on the upper part of the stem are linear and entire. The racemes are terminal or axillary, with glabrous inflorescence axis, which elongates significantly during the fruiting period. The flowers are small, numerous, and loosely arranged. The sepals are elliptical, 1-1.5mm long, with white membranous edges, and often covered with white short soft hairs on the outside. The petals are white or light red, oblong-spatulate, 1.5-2mm long. There are 6 stamens, 4 long and 2 short, the long stamens are about 2mm long, and the short stamens are about 1.5mm long. There is 1 pistil, and the ovary is nearly broadly elliptical, 1.5-2mm long and about 1mm wide. The boundaries of the style are not obvious, and the stigma is capitate. The short silique is round-ovate or elliptical, 4-6mm long, slightly concave at the tip, rounded at the base, with winged edges, and the style is about half the length of the notch. There is one seed in each chamber, which is oval, about 2.5 mm long, flat, and has reddish-brown, smooth, and edgeless lobes. The flowering period is June-July, and the fruiting period is August-September.

【Habitat distribution】Ecological environment: cultivated or escaped into the wild.

[Chemical composition] The whole plant and seeds contain 0.115% volatile oil, the main components of which are benzyl-cyanide, benzyl thiocyanate, benzyl isothiocyanate, etc. The whole plant also contains lepidine, and the seeds contain sinapine.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; warm

【Functions and indications】Expectorant and cough relieving; warming the middle; diuretic. Cough; wheezing; thick phlegm; hiccups; diarrhea; dysentery; abdominal distension; edema; difficulty urinating; scabies

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 6-15g. For external use: take appropriate amount, mash and apply or grind into powder for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

After the above introduction to Lepidium melongena, we have a detailed understanding of Lepidium melongena. In life, we can learn more about the characteristics of Lepidium melongena and make full use of its medicinal value to serve our lives.