Effects and functions of Powdered Stephania tetrandra

Speaking of Stephania tetrandra, many people know that it is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. So do you know the effects and functions of Stephania tetrandra? How should it be eaten? Let’s find out now.

【English name】 Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae

[Other names] Hanfangji, Baimuxiang

[Source] It is the root of Stephania tetrandra S. Moore , a plant of the Menispermaceae family. Dig up in autumn, remove the rough skin, sun-dry until half-dry, cut into sections or split longitudinally, and dry.

[Original form] Perennial deciduous twining vine. The stem is slender with longitudinal stripes. Leaves are alternate, broadly triangular-ovate, obtuse at apex with a small apices, truncated or slightly cordate at base, pubescent on both sides, entire, with 5 palmate veins; petiole is peltate. The flowers are small, unisexual, and dioecious; the male inflorescence is a capitate cyme, arranged in a raceme, with 4 sepals, 4 petals, 4 stamens, and filaments connected into a column, disc-shaped at the top, with anthers borne on it; the female sepals and petals are the same as those of male flowers, with 1 carpel. The drupe is spherical and red when ripe. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from July to September.

[Habitat distribution] Grown in grass and shrub edges on hillsides and hilly areas. It is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Anhui, Hubei and Hunan.

[Properties] The root is irregularly cylindrical, or cut into semi-cylindrical or block-shaped, often curved, with deep transverse grooves at the bends and nodular, 5 to 15 cm long and 1 to 5 cm in diameter. The surface is grayish yellow with fine wrinkles and transversely protruding lenticels. It is hard and heavy, with a flat cross section, grayish white and powdery. It has a faint smell and a bitter taste.

[Chemical composition] Contains a variety of isoquinoline alkaloids, mainly tetrandrine, fangchinoline, cyclanoline, dimethyltetrandrine and berbamine.

【Nature and flavor】Cold in nature, bitter in taste.

【Functions and indications】Diuresis and swelling reduction, wind-dispelling and pain relief. Used for edema, athlete's foot, difficulty urinating, rheumatism, eczema, and hypertension.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

The above are some little knowledge about Stephania tetrandra. If you feel it is suitable for your physical condition, you might as well give it a try. I believe it will bring obvious improvement to your body.