The efficacy and function of Atractylodes lancea

With the development of society and the close international exchanges, most people who study medicine have been seriously influenced by Western medicine, and fewer and fewer people are studying Chinese medicine, which has resulted in less and less understanding of Chinese medicine. Let’s talk about the effects and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine Atractylodes lancea.

【English name】 Japanese Atractylodes Rhizome

[Other names] Atractylodes lancea, Atractylodes orientalis

[Source] It is the rhizome of Atractylodes japonica Koidz.ez Kitam., a plant of the Asteraceae family .

[Original form] Perennial herb, up to 70cm tall. The petiole is 2.5~3cm long; the leaves at the lower part of the stem are 3~5-lobed, the lateral lobes are oblong, obovate or elliptical, the marginal thorns are flat or incurved, and the top lobe is larger; the leaves at the upper part of the stem are 3-lobed or unlobed. The capitula is terminal, with a whorl of pinnate-lobed leaf-like bracts below, and 6 to 8 layers of bracts; there are many flowers, and bisexual and unisexual flowers are mostly on different plants; bisexual flowers have long pinnate pappus, the corolla is white, slender and tubular; there are 5 stamens; the ovary is inferior, densely covered with white soft hairs. Oblong, achenes are white. The flowering period is from August to September, and the fruiting period is from September to October.

[Habitat distribution] Growing on hillsides, under oak forests, and among bushes. It is mainly produced in Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning.

[Properties] The rhizomes are mostly nodular and cylindrical, 4~12cm long and 1~2.5cm in diameter. The surface is dark brown, with root marks and tiny fibrous roots, and residual stem marks. It is light in texture, with uneven fracture surface and is fibrous. It has a strong and unique aroma, and tastes spicy and slightly bitter.

[Chemical composition] Contains volatile oil, which contains discetyllatractylo-dinol, atractylene glycol, and atractylene lactone Ⅰ.

[Functions and indications] Same as Atractylodes macrocephala.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

In the above article, we introduced what is Atractylodes lancea, its efficacy and functions. We know that Atractylodes lancea can not only improve immunity, but also plays an indispensable role in certain diseases.