The efficacy and function of Eucommia ulmoides leaves

The Chinese medicinal herb Eucommia leaves is a relatively good medicinal material, but many people don’t know much about it. So let’s take a closer look at the Chinese medicinal herb Eucommia leaves below.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leaves of Eucommia ulmoides, a plant of the Eucommia family.

[Original form] Deciduous tree, up to 20m high. The bark is gray-brown, rough, and has many filaments when broken and pulled apart. Young branches have yellow-brown hairs, which later become hairless; old branches have lenticels. Simple leaves are alternate; petiole is 1-2cm long, with grooves on it and scattered long hairs; leaf blade is elliptical, ovate or oblong, 6-15cm long, 3.5-6.5cm wide, gradually pointed at the apex, rounded or broadly cuneate at the base, dark green above, light green below, old leaves are slightly wrinkled, and the edges are serrated; lateral veins are 6-9 pairs. The flowers are unisexual and dioecious, borne at the base of the current year's branches. The male flowers have no perianth and the pedicels are glabrous; the stamens are about 1 cm long, glabrous, and have no degenerate pistils; the female flowers are solitary, with a pedicel about 8 mm long, an ovary with 1 chamber, 2 lobes at the apex, and a very short ovary stalk. The samaras are flat, oblong, two-cleft at the tip, cuneate at the base, and surrounded by thin wings; the nut is located in the center and has a joint where it joins the fruit stalk. It blooms in early spring and the fruits ripen in autumn.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in sparse forests in low mountains and valleys at an altitude of 300-500m.

[Properties] Identification of properties: This product is mostly wrinkled and broken. The complete leaves are elliptical or oval when flattened, 6-14cm long, 3-7cm wide, dark yellow-green, gradually pointed at the tip, rounded or broadly cuneate at the base, serrated at the edge, and pubescent on the veins on the lower surface; the petiole is 1-1.5cm long. It is brittle and when broken, elastic silvery-white rubber threads can be seen connecting them. It has a faint smell and a slightly bitter taste.

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[Pharmacological action] 1. Sedative and analgesic effect: After 20g/kg of Eucommia leaf decoction was intragastrically administered to mice, the number of spontaneous activities of the mice was significantly reduced at 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours, and the most obvious decrease was at 2 hours. The hot plate method experiment confirmed that intraperitoneal injection of 12g/kg of Eucommia ulmoides leaves decoction and alcohol precipitation into mice can increase the pain threshold of mice and have a significant analgesic effect.

[Preparation] 1. Eucommia leaves: remove impurities, cut into shreds, and sieve out ash.

【Nature and flavor】 Slightly spicy; warm

【Entry】 Enters the liver and kidney meridians

【Functions and indications】Nourishes the liver and kidneys; strengthens the tendons and bones; lowers blood pressure. Mainly used for back pain; soreness and weakness in the feet and knees; hypertension

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 15-30g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

I believe that after reading the above explanations, everyone has a deeper understanding of the Chinese medicine Eucommia leaves, right? In fact, many foods or medicinal materials are the same. Only when we understand them can we eat them correctly according to our own situation and effectively help maintain our health.