The efficacy and function of Tamarix

I don’t know if you are familiar with Tamarix and whether you understand its effects and functions. Let’s analyze in detail the value and eating methods of Tamarix.

[Other names] Tamarind (The Book of Songs), River Willow (Mao Shi Zhuan), Yin Tamarind (Zheng Xuan's annotation to Erzhi), Rain Master (Lu Ji's Shi Shu), Red Poplar (Cui Bao's Annotation of Ancient and Modern Times), Human Willow (Sanfu Jiushi), Red Tamarind (Rihuazi Materia Medica), Three Spring Willow (Kaibao Materia Medica), Spring Willow (Compendium of Materia Medica Illustrated), Three Sleeping Willow (Compendium of Materia Medica Yanyi), Fallen Tamarind (General History), Longevity Immortal Willow (Lücanyan Materia Medica), Guanyin Willow (Weiwei Yijian Fang), Rain Silk, Shu Willow, Weeping Silk Willow (Compendium of Materia Medica), Red Willow (Eastern Medical Treasure Mirror), Xihe Willow (Compendium of Materia Medica Huiyan), Red Tamarind (Compendium of Materia Medica Beiyao), West Lake Willow, Red Tendon Strip (Chinese Tree Taxonomy), Mountain and River Willow (Manual of Medicinal Materials Production), Red Willow (Xinjiang Medicinal Materials).

[Source] The tender branches and leaves of Tamarix chinensis, Tamarix juniper or Tamarix multi-branched, plants of the Tamarixaceae family. When the flowers have not yet bloomed in April and May, break off the tender branches and leaves and dry them in the shade.

【Original form】 ① Tamarix

[Habitat distribution] It is mainly produced in Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei, Yunnan, Fujian, Guangdong and other places.

【Properties】 The dry branches are cylindrical. The diameter of the young branches is less than 1.5 mm, the surface is gray-green, and there are many alternate scaly leaflets. It is brittle and easily broken. The thick stalk is about 3 mm in diameter and has a reddish-brown surface. The leaves often fall off, leaving the remaining leaf bases in a protruding shape. The cross section of the thick stem is yellow-white, with the xylem accounting for the vast majority, with obvious annual rings, the bark and xylem are very easy to separate, and there is pith in the center. It has a faint smell and light taste. The best ones are green in color, tender in texture and free of impurities.

【Chemical composition】 Contains resin and quercetin. The bark contains 19.6% water and 5.21% tannin.

【Pharmacological action】 ①Effect on the respiratory system

[Processing] Pick out impurities, remove stems, spray moisturize, cut into sections, and dry in the sun.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet, salty, neutral.

[Entry into Meridians] Enters the lung, stomach, and heart meridians.

【Functions and indications】Dispel wind, relieve exterior symptoms, promote urination and detoxify. It is used to treat measles that is difficult to break out, itchy urticaria, colds, coughs and asthma, and rheumatic bone pain.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral administration: decoct in water, 1 to 2 liang; or grind into powder. For external use: decoct in water and wash.

【Note】 Do not take this medicine if you have measles or are weak and sweating a lot.

[Additional prescription] ① Treating infantile measles, wheezing, coughing, depression, and restlessness: ㈠ Xihe willow leaves, air-dried and ground into powder, mix 4 qian of powder with water, and take it all at once. (First Aid Prescription) 2. Boil the willow of Xihe River in water, remove the residue, and when it is half warm, rub it with coriander dipped in water, but do not wash the head and face; wet nurses and children should continue to drink the decoction of Xihe River Willow. (Supplement to Gangmu)

【Discussions by various scholars】 ① "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Red tamarisk, in recent times, has also been used as a dispersing medicine to treat measles and heat toxins that cannot be expelled. The "Classic" says that where the Shaoyin reaches, there are ulcers and rashes, which is exactly what Liu Shouzhen said that all pains, itches, sores and ulcers are all caused by heart fire. When heat toxins burn in the lungs and stomach, rashes will occur between the muscles, because the lungs govern the skin and hair, and the stomach governs the muscles. This medicine enters the heart, lungs, and stomach meridians. When the toxins in the three meridians are eliminated, the evil will penetrate the skin, and the internal heat will disappear. These are all functions of development, ascension, and slight warmth. " "It is the same as gypsum, rash, mint, schizonepeta, Scrophularia, burdock seeds, ophiopogon, bamboo leaves, forsythia, scutellaria, and licorice. It can treat rashes that cannot break out, or even if they cannot break out, if the heat is very toxic, the tongue has thorns, there is great thirst and delirium, and the rashes are purple and black, adding it to Sanhuang Gypsum Soup is very effective."

【Clinical application】 ①Treatment of chronic tracheitis

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

【Source】 From "Compendium of Materia Medica"

Through the above introduction, I found that Tamarix has so many pharmacological effects, and it also has good effects on some diseases. In fact, there may be many "treasures" around our lives, but most of the time we don’t have a heart that is good at discovering them.