The efficacy and function of Baihuocao

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Baihuocao has great medicinal value and can treat many diseases. Let’s take a closer look at it below.

[Alias] Xiao Huangxin, Changchun Xiao Huangxin, Huo Paozi

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leaves of the dwarf Tanchun plant of the Oleaceae family.

[Original form] Shrubs or small trees, sometimes climbing, 0.5-3m high. Branchlets glabrous or sparsely pubescent, with distinct ridges. Leaves are alternate, compound, with 3-7 leaflets, often with simple leaves at the base of branchlets; petiole 0.5-2cm long; leaf blade leathery or thinly leathery, with short soft hairs on veins on the lower surface; leaflets ovate to ovate-lanceolate, or elliptic-lanceolate to lanceolate, rarely obovate, with acute to caudal apex, rounded or cuneate base, entire, leaf margin recurved, sometimes with more or less closely attached spiny eyelashes; terminal leaflets 1-6cm long, 0.4-2cm wide, lateral leaflets 0.5-4.5cm long, 0.3-2cm wide. Umbel, corymbose or paniculate cymes terminal; bracts linear, usually 2-4mm long; pedicels 0.5-3cm long, glabrous or pubescent; flowers more or less fragrant; calyx lobes triangular, shorter than calyx tube; corolla yellow, nearly funnel-shaped, corolla tube 0.8-1.6cm long, lobes rounded or ovate, 3-7mm long, with rounded or slightly pointed apex. The fruit is oval or spherical, 0.6-1.1 cm long and 4-10 mm in diameter, and is purple-black when ripe. The flowering period is from April to July, and the fruiting period is from June to October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in sparse and dense forests at an altitude of 1100-3500m.

【Properties】 Characteristic identification: Trifoliate leaves or pinnate leaves. The leaflets are mostly curled and wrinkled, and when flattened they are oval or elliptical, 1.5-2.5cm long and 0.5-1cm wide, with soft hairs on the leaf margins and midribs. The texture is brittle and easily broken. It has a slight fragrance and a spicy taste.

[Chemical composition] The leaves contain friedelin, lupeol, beiulin, betulinic acid, α-amyrin, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid and β-sitosterol.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; sweet; slightly astringent; cool

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies. Mainly used for burns and scalds; heat-toxic sores and ulcers

[Usage and Dosage] For external use: grind appropriate amount and mix with vegetable oil for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the above, we have learned about the effects and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine Baihuocao. I hope everyone can prescribe the right medicine and consume Baihuocao correctly in life.