The efficacy and function of black shell nan

Black nanmu is a traditional Chinese medicine. In addition to the effects we know in daily life, black nanmu actually has many other effects and functions. Let’s take a look at them right away.

[Other names] Rockwood, Nanmu, Star Anise, Flower Orchid, Pig Shit Nanmu, Chicken Shit Nanmu, Big Nanmu, Loquat Nanmu

[Source] Medicinal material source: the root, bark or branches of the macaw plant of the Lauraceae family.

[Original form] Phoebe maculatum is an evergreen tree, up to 25m tall. The bark is smooth and dark gray; the twigs are thick with grayish white lenticels. Leaves are alternate; petiole 1.5-3cm long, leaf blade oblanceolate-oblong to ovate-oblong, 10-23cm long, 3-7.5cm wide, apex acuminate or short-tailed, base cuneate, dark green and shiny above, pale beneath, with obvious reticular veins. The flowers are dioecious, with axillary umbels and short peduncles; the involucre is grayish white, densely covered with fine soft hairs, which fall off when flowering, and each inflorescence has 9-16 flowers; the pedicels and perianth tube are densely covered with white or yellowish brown hairs; the flowers are purple-red; the tepals are 6, spoon-shaped to linear-lanceolate, with 9 fertile stamens and 2 anthers, all of which are inward-lobed; the ovary is ovate, the style is relatively long, and the stigma is capitate. The fruit is elliptical to ovoid-spherical, about 1.8 cm long and 1.3 cm in diameter. It is green-black when ripe, with a persistent, thick, woody cup-shaped receptacle at the base; the fruit pedicel is about 1.3 cm long. Seeds oblong-ovate. The flowering period is from February to April, and the fruiting period is from September to December.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in shady and moist evergreen broad-leaved forest slopes and valleys at an altitude of 1600-2000m. It is also cultivated.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The bark is grooved, rolled or flaky, up to 40 cm long and 2-8 mm thick. The outer surface is gray-brown or gray-black, relatively rough, with longitudinal wrinkles on the tender bark, protruding oval lenticels, and occasionally circular branch marks; the inner surface is brown-red or light yellow-brown, relatively smooth. It is hard and brittle, easy to break, with a flat cross section and a yellowish-white color. It has a slight fragrance and a slightly spicy taste.

[Chemical composition] The roots, stems and leaves all contain right-handed dicentrine. The stems and leaves also contain nordicentrine, maguocurarine, N-methylhernangerine (N-methylnandigerine), N-methylovigerine (N-methylhernovine), ○-methylbulbocapnirte, etc. The leaves also contain lindoldhamine.

【Nature and flavor】 Pungent; slightly bitter; warm

【Meridian】 Liver; Stomach

【Functions and indications】 Expel wind and dampness; warm the middle and promote the flow of qi; reduce swelling and relieve pain. It is used to treat rheumatic pain, numbness and pain in the limbs, cold pain in the abdomen, hernia pain, sore throat, and itching of ringworms.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 3-9g. For external use: take appropriate amount, stir-fry and apply externally or boil in water for washing.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above is an introduction to some relevant knowledge about black-shelled nan. Do you have a better understanding of it? I hope everyone can apply black shell nan in life and serve our health.