The efficacy and function of Physalis macrophylla

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

[Other names] Big sour, grass ephedra, native ephedra, native rhubarb, Sichuan and Yunnan sorrel

[Source] Medicinal material source: the root or whole herb of Rumex erythrorhizon of the Polygonaceae family.

[Original form] Perennial herb or semi-shrub, 30-50cm high. The rhizome is woody and brown; the stem is erect, many-branched, slender, grooved and powdery. The leaves are deeply lobed into three parts, with the lobes being linear, the middle lobe being long linear or nearly linear-lanceolate, 1.5-3.5cm long, the auriculate lobes on both sides spreading outward or bending upward, with the lobes being 0.5-1.5cm long, the leaf base being halberd-shaped, entire, glabrous, and covered with white powder; the petiole being longer than the leaf blade; the stipule sheath being membranous, torn, and brown. The raceme is terminal, with a long inflorescence axis and white powder; dioecious, bracts are membranous and torn; pedicels extend out of the bracts; there are 6 perianth segments, red; the female flower has 3 outer perianth segments, reflexed, and 3 inner perianth segments, upright, with reticular patterns; there are 3 styles, and the stigma is brush-shaped.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in river valley thickets, hillside rocks or grasslands at an altitude of 1500-2000m.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The root is slender and cylindrical, curved, and occasionally branched; up to 30 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm in diameter; the cross section is woody, brown-yellow, and bitter. The stem is much branched, with slightly swollen nodes and longitudinal lines on the surface. The petiole is slender, the leaf blade is halberd-shaped, narrow, 2-5cm long and 1-5mm wide. The inflorescence is densely packed with small flowers ranging from yellow to light red. Samara, triangular. It has a faint smell and tastes bitter and astringent.

[Chemical composition] The roots and rhizomes of Rumex euphorbia contain β-sitos-terol, stearyl alcohol, quercetin-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside, leucocyani-din, chrysophanol, emedin, physcion, and 8-hydroxy-3-methyl anthraquinone-1-O-(4-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-α-L-rhammopyranoside.

【Nature and flavor】 Sour; astringent; slightly spicy; warm

【Functions and indications】Induces sweat and relieves exterior symptoms; dispels wind and dampness; relieves cough; stops bleeding. Mainly used for colds; headaches; rheumatic joint pain; cough and asthma; traumatic injuries; metrorrhagia

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 15-30g; or soak in wine. For external use: take appropriate amount, decoct in water for fumigation and washing; mash and apply; or grind into powder and apply.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

I believe that after reading the above explanations, everyone has a deeper understanding of the Chinese medicinal herb Physalis alkekengi? 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.