The efficacy and function of Haibai

The Chinese herbal medicine Haibai 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 herbal medicine Haibai.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The algae of the Cryptophyceae plant Haworthia serrata.

[Original morphology] The algae is dark red-purple, cartilaginous, clustered, 5-15cm high, about 2mm wide, upright, cylindrical at the base, dark and hard in color, slightly flattened at the top, lighter and slightly softer in color, with dichotomous branches like brooms, and blunt ends. There are often slight constrictions on the branches, and occasionally small edendrites. The filamentous cells of the medulla are connected into a network, which is loose, and the cortical cells are small and tightly integrated into chains. The tetrasporangium clusters grow on the upper part of the branches, and the sori are dark in color, slightly convex and granular. The holdfast is disc-shaped. The algae turns yellow when aging and becomes keratin after drying.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown on rocks and in rocky swamps in the intratidal zone or low tidal zone.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The algae is dark purple or light yellow, growing in clusters, 5-15cm long, cartilaginous when fresh, and horny when dry. The base is cylindrical, with a disc-shaped holdfast, and the upper part is slightly flattened. Dichotomously branched, obtuse at apex. The algae often have slight constrictions and occasionally small branches. It has a slightly fishy smell and a slightly salty taste.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet; Salty; Cold

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and purges fire; relieves constipation. Mainly used for gastroenteritis; stomachache; hypertension; chronic constipation

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 9-15g; or grind into powder.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

I believe that after reading the above explanations, everyone has a deeper understanding of the traditional Chinese medicine Haibai? 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.