The efficacy and function of box fruit vine

Box fruit vine is a very common type of traditional Chinese medicine and is also a frequently used medicine. It has unique effects and functions in treating many diseases. Here we will tell you in detail about the effects of some traditional Chinese medicine box fruit vines.

[Other names] Loose tendon vine, sweet potato vine, soft tendon vine, false potato vine, water potato vine, purple wing vine

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb or root bark of the Convolvulaceae plant.

[Original form] Box fruit vine is a perennial twining herb. Roots fleshy, much branched. The stem is cylindrical, spirally twisted, and has 3-5 wings. Simple leaves are alternate; petioles are 2-10cm long and have narrow wings; leaf shapes vary, cordate-round, ovate, broadly ovate, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, large leaves are 4-14cm long and 3.5-14cm wide, small leaves are 4-5.5cm long and 1.2-2.5cm wide, apex is acute, acuminate or obtuse, base is cordate, truncate or cuneate, margin is entire or shallowly lobed, leaf surface is covered with small bristles, dorsal surface is covered with short soft hairs; lateral veins are 6 pairs, protruding on the dorsal surface. The cymes grow in leaf axils, usually with 2 flowers, prominent bracts and sturdy pedicels; 5 sepals, the outer 2 are leathery, 1.5-2cm long, densely covered with short soft hairs on the outside, glabrous on the inside, and the inner 3 are slightly shorter, nearly membranous, and glabrous. When fruiting, the sepals enlarge to 2.5-3cm long; the corolla is white or pink, purple, broadly funnel-shaped, with small yellow glandular dots on the outside, the rim of the crown is 5-lobed, and the lobes are round; 5 stamens, hidden, the lower part of the filaments is covered with short soft hairs, and the anthers are longitudinally twisted; the style is hidden. The capsule is oblate, about 1.5 cm in diameter. There are 4 seeds, which are oval-triangular, about 6 mm in diameter, black and hairless. The flowering period is from October to April of the following year.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in bushes beside streams and valley roadsides in low altitude areas, mostly in sunny places, or found near villages.

【Properties】Properties identification: The whole plant is mostly tangled into a ball. The stem is slender, cylindrical, purplish-brown in surface, with distinct edges or narrow wings. The leaves are dry green, alternate, mostly curled, and when flattened, they are ovate-triangular, gradually pointed at the apex, nearly truncate at the base, and entire; with short petioles and brittle texture. Sometimes pale yellowish-white flowers can be seen, which are bell-shaped, with 5 shallow lobes at the tip, 5 sepals, withered green or light brown-purple, and soft hairs. It has a slight fragrance and a light taste.

[Chemical composition] The stem contains betulin, β-sitosterol (β-sitosi-terol), and lupeol (lupeo1).

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet; slightly bitter; neutral

【Functions and indications】Diuretic; laxative; muscle relaxation. Mainly used for edema; constipation; long-term injury to the tendons; inability to stretch

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 6-10g. For external use: take appropriate amount and wash with decoction.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The article introduces the effects and functions of box fruit vine in detail. I hope everyone can remember its common effects, which will help us to use box fruit vine correctly in our lives. Box fruit vine can effectively improve our physical fitness and is very beneficial for improving our body immunity.