The efficacy and function of white octagonal lotus

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

[Other names] Blood-threaded golden basin, Podophyllum, Nine-mortar

[Source] Medicinal material source: the roots and rhizomes of the Berberidaceae plant Guizhou octagonal lotus.

[Original form] Guizhou octagonal lotus, perennial herb. The stem is erect, 10-30cm high, with longitudinal ridges and fine soft hairs. The rhizome is thick, nodular, yellowish brown, fleshy, and has many fibrous roots. There are 2 stem leaves; petiole 7-12cm long; leaf blade is peltate, leaf outline is nearly oblate or semicircular, about 12cm long, about 15cm wide, 4-6 deeply palmately lobed, and 2-3 lobes are shallowly lobed into halberd shape, dark green or with purple halo on the upper side, gray-purple on the lower side, with fine soft hairs, and leaf margins sometimes with inconspicuous teeth. 2-5 flowers in umbels, borne on the upper part of the petiole not far from the leaves, pedicels about 1 cm long, with grayish-white fine hairs; flowers purple, drooping, petals elliptic-lanceolate; stamens usually 6, filaments spreading, anthers inward, longitudinally fissured; ovary with many ovules. The berries are oblong and red when ripe. The flowering period is from April to June, and the fruiting period is from June to September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown under shady and moist shrub forests in mountains at an altitude of 1500m.

[Properties] Identification of properties: the rhizome is in irregular nodular shape with a diameter of 1.5-2cm. The surface is brown or brown-red, with obvious concave stem scars on the top, irregular segments, and sometimes residual scale leaves can be seen. There are numerous fibrous roots or dot-like protruding fibrous root scars. The root can be up to 10cm long, 1-1.5mm in diameter, with a brown-yellow surface and fine longitudinal lines. The texture is hard, the fracture surface is flat and granular; the rhizome bark is light brown-red, the vascular bundles are arranged in annular patterns, the pith is large and yellow-white; the fibrous roots have thick bark, yellow-white, and the xylem is small, accounting for 1/5 of the diameter, and is brown-yellow. Slight odor, peculiar bitter taste.

【Chemical composition】 Contains physcion, sitosterol, dysoanthraquinone, demethyldysoanthraquinone, picropodophyllin, podophyllotoxin, picropodophyllin, diphyllin, 4-demethylpodophyllotoxin, deoxypodophyllotoxix, 4-demethylpodophyllotoxone, podophyllotoxone, isopicropodophyllone and picropodophyllone.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet; bitter; neutral

【Functions and indications】Nourishes yin and tonifies the kidney; clears the lungs and moistens dryness; detoxifies and reduces swelling. Mainly used for muscle and bone pain caused by fatigue; impotence; stomachache; unknown swelling; knife and gun injuries

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 3-9g. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above are some little knowledge about white ovalbumin. If you feel it is suitable for your physical condition, you might as well give it a try. I believe it will have a significant improvement on your body.