The efficacy and function of douma

As a traditional Chinese medicine, do you know the medicinal value of Douma? How does traditional Chinese medicine use Douma to treat diseases? And what should you pay attention to when using Douma to treat diseases in daily life? Don't worry, we will answer them one by one for you.

[Other names] Leprosy, Guangxi mugwort

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole plant of Artemisia vulgaris with roots of the Urticaceae family.

[Original form] Shrub or semi-shrub, 1-2m high. The upper part of the stem and twigs have prickles, which are coarse and hard, 3-4mm long, with long hair pillows. Leaves are alternate; petiole is 4-8cm long, covered with stiff spines; stipules are triangular-ovate, with two shallow lobes at the apex; leaf blade is broadly ovate or nearly cordate, 5-12cm long, 4-10cm wide, acuminate at the apex, often truncate at the base, with dentate margins, dark green above, covered with appressed large and small spines, often purple below, with sparse large and small spines, stalactites are fine dots, densely covered on both sides; there are three basal veins, one pair of which is curved at the side, and three pairs of lateral veins. Inflorescence monoecious; narrowly conical, with short branches, male ones born in the lower leaf axils, with short stalks, up to 8cm long, female ones born near the top leaf axils, up to 20m long, peduncles 7-10cm long, and axis covered with large and small spines. Male flowers nearly sessile; tepals 4(-5), connate to middle, sparsely covered with fine prickles; stamens (4-)5; reduced pistil inverted pear-shaped. Female flowers pedunculate, tepals 4, unequal in size; ovary with short gynophore, stigma filiform. Achenes are obovate, skewed, slightly flattened, with warty protrusions on both sides, the lower part contracted into a stalk, attached to a short gynophore; the pedicels swell into obovate membranous wings when in fruit. The flowering period is from June to August, and the fruiting period is from August to November.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in sparse forests on hillsides at an altitude of 200-1100m.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; warm

【Functions and indications】 Dispel wind and dampness; soothe the stomach and eliminate turbidity. It is used for rheumatic pain; numbness of limbs; chest tightness and abdominal distension; abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 6-15g; or soaked in wine.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

It can be seen that the medicinal value of Douma is still very obvious. However, not everyone can use Douma. We can judge based on our own physical condition.