The efficacy and function of Senecio longifolia

Senecio longicornis is a famous traditional commonly used Chinese medicinal material in my country with a long history of application. Today we will learn about the long-stemmed Senecio.

【English name】Longstalk Groundsel

[Other name] Wild greens

[Source] Medicinal material source: the inflorescence and whole herb of Senecio longipes of the Asteraceae family.

[Original form] Senecio sempervivum, perennial herb, 50-100cm tall. There are underground stems and fibrous roots. The stem is erect or obliquely ascending, with umbel-shaped inflorescence branches on the upper part. The lower leaves often wither during flowering, with leaves up to 30 cm long and 14 cm wide. The upper leaves gradually become smaller, with leaves pinnately divided to medium deeply divided, lanceolate or spoon-lanceolate, with round ears at the base and unequal shallow teeth on the edges; the top lobe is triangular or halberd-lanceolate, gradually pointed, with 4-6 pairs of lateral lobes, lanceolate, halberd-lanceolate or strip-shaped, glabrous on both sides. Inflorescence capitulate, mostly densely packed, arranged in compound corymbs; slender pedicels, with linear bracts, covered with short hairs; involucre nearly cylindrical, 5-6mm long, glabrous, with 1 layer of 8-10 bracts, linear-lanceolate, membranous margins, with several linear bracts outside; 1 layer of ligulate flowers, 3-4 in number, with yellow ligules; about 8 tubular flowers, up to 8mm long; achenes, nearly cylindrical, with longitudinal ribs; pappus white.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows in grasslands, roadsides and bushes.

【Chemical composition】 The whole plant contains triangularine, neotriangularine, 7-senecioyl-9-sarracinoyl retronecine and neosarracine.

【Nature and flavor】 Slightly bitter; cool in nature

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies; improves eyesight. Mainly used for carbuncle, sore, furuncle; red and swollen eyes

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 10-15g.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": Inflorescence and the whole plant: have the functions of clearing away heat, detoxifying, and improving eyesight.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Although the long-stemmed groundsel has many magical effects, it cannot be eaten casually. We need to use the medicine according to the user's own situation. I hope everyone will not take it indiscriminately to avoid unnecessary consequences.