The efficacy and function of flat bamboo

As a very common Chinese medicinal material in daily life, flat bamboo shoots have high medicinal and nutritional value to the human body, and it is not too difficult to purchase. Let’s analyze several aspects of flat bamboo testing.

[Other names] Small flat grass, fan grass, rolling dragon asarum, grass ganoderma, small stone calamus, green grass, resurrection grass, flat bamboo orchid, hernia-eliminating grass

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Acorus calamus of the Liliaceae family.

[Original morphology] Acorus calamus is a herb with rhizomes. Plant size varies greatly, ranging from 7-35cm in height. Leaves are basal, in two rows, and flattened on both sides; leaf blades are 3-22cm long and 0.2-0.4cm wide. The scape is 8-35cm high; the raceme is 2-10cm long, the pedicel is 1.5-7mm long, and usually droops after flowering; the bracteoles are fused into a small cup with 3 shallow teeth; the tepals are 6 oblong-oblanceolate, 2-3mm long, and white; there are 6 stamens, the filaments are slightly longer to 1mm longer than the tepals, the anthers are nearly dorsifixed and longitudinally fissured inwards; the ovary is oblong-narrow ovate, the styles are 3, separate, relatively thin, about 0.5-1mm long, and obviously longer than the anthers. Capsule is more or less drooping or spreading, obovate-triangular or nearly elliptical, about 3mm long, about 2mm wide, with 3 deep cracks at the upper end reaching the middle or below the middle, more or less follicle-like, with persistent style 1-1.5mm long. Seeds numerous, nearly linear and fusiform, without white longitudinal bands. The flowering period is from June to August, and the fruiting period is from July to September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing on grass slopes, stream banks or in rock crevices or on rocks under forests at an altitude of 1000-4300m.

【Nature and flavor】 sweet; bland; neutral

【Functions and indications】 Strengthens the spleen, eliminates dampness and harmonizes the stomach; promotes blood circulation and reduces swelling. It is mainly used for dampness and spleen deficiency; diarrhea; edema; dysuria; stomachache due to food accumulation; dizziness and tinnitus; irregular menstruation; traumatic injury; rubella; pneumonia in children

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 9-30g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Flat bamboo shoots are a medicinal material that has existed for a long time. There are records about it in many Chinese medicine books, which shows that flat bamboo shoots do have good medicinal value.