The efficacy and function of short snakeroot

Short snakeroot in our lives Short snakeroot has attracted our attention because of its extremely high medicinal value. Let's take a closer look at what short snakeroot is.

[Other names] Dioscorea foetida, golden key, cockscomb, white lilac, sunflower, golden bell grass, black spear head, mountain amaranth, small snake root grass

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of short snakeroot grass of the Rubiaceae family.

[Original form] Short snakeroot, a dwarf herb, 10-30cm tall. The stem is pubescent, erect or prostrate at the lower part, with the prostrate part rooting at the nodes. Leaves are opposite, thin and papery; petioles are 5-15mm long and pubescent; stipules are subulate, 4-5mm long, and fall off; leaf blades are narrowly elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, 3-8cm long, 1-2.5cm wide, with acute or acuminate apex, cuneate base, slightly decurrent, entire, sparsely covered with short and coarse hairs on the upper side and denser on the lower side, with 7-9 pairs of lateral veins, connected by an arch near the leaf margin. The inflorescence is terminal and multi-branched; the peduncle is 1-2cm long; there are no bracts; the calyx is densely hairy, the calyx tube is short, nearly 2mm long, 5-lobed, the lobes are ovate, about 1mm long; the corolla is white, turning light yellow after drying, 4-6mm long, covered with sparse short soft hairs, 5-lobed, and the lobes are ovate; there are 5 stamens. They are born near the base of the corolla tube and are hidden inside; the style is about 1mm long, and the stigma is 1.3mm long and 2-lobed. Capsule obcordate, 5-6mm wide, about 3 times long, and pubescent. Flowering period is from April to July.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows in moist soil under forests or on rocks near water.

【Chemical composition】 The whole plant contains chaboside (11-methoxy-10-glucopyranosyloxy camptothecin), inamoside (2-glucopyranOsyloxy4(2-hy-dmxymeihyl-6，6-dimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1-yl)-3-butene), pumiloside and deoxy-pumiloside.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; Cold

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies. Mainly used for colds and fevers; coughs; carbuncle swellings; snake bites

[Usage and Dosage] For internal use: decoct in water, 10-30g. For external use: appropriate amount, mash and apply.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

From the above we can see that the Chinese medicine short snakeroot has very high medicinal value, so we can consider using short snakeroot in our lives.