The efficacy and function of Acer truncatum

Acer truncatum is a medicinal material. If we have some understanding of its medicinal value, we can correctly use Acer truncatum to treat some related diseases in life. Let’s take a look at it below.

[Alias] Red maple leaf, colored wood, five-dragon skin.

[Source] Medicinal material source: branches and leaves of Acer serrata, a plant of the Aceraceae family.

[Original form] Acer serrata is a deciduous tree, 15-20m tall. The bark is rough, often cracked longitudinally, and gray-brown; the twigs are thin and glabrous, the young branches of the current year are green or purple-green, the perennial branches are gray or light gray, and have round lenticels; the winter buds are nearly spherical, and the scales are ovate. Leaves are opposite; petioles are 4-6cm long, thin, and glabrous; leaf blades are papery, nearly elliptical in appearance, 6-8cm long, 9-11cm wide, 5-lobed, sometimes 3-lobed or 7-lobed on the same tree; lobes are ovate or broadly triangular, long and gradually pointed, entire, and glabrous, with only tufts of hair in the axils of the main veins. There are 5 main veins, which are prominent on the upper side, and the lateral veins are not prominent on both sides. They are light green on the upper side and light green on the lower side. Flowers are numerous, polygamous, with male and bisexual flowers on the same plant, most of which are often conical, with terminal umbels and no hairs; flowers are greenish yellow, with a peduncle 1-2 cm long; sepals 5, oblong, yellowish green; petals 5, elliptic, pale white; stamens 8, no hairs, shorter than petals, anthers yellow; ovary glabrous, undeveloped in male flowers, style glabrous, stigma 2-lobed, recurved. The samaras are purple-green when young, and light yellow when mature. The nutlets are flattened, 1-1.3cm long and 5-8mm wide; the wings are oblong, 5-10mm wide, and 2-2.5cm long together with the nutlets, opening into an acute or nearly obtuse angle. The flowering period is May and the fruiting period is September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in sparse woods on hillsides or in valleys at an altitude of 800-1500m.

[Chemical composition] The leaves contain chrysanthemin, canin, karacyanin, lycoricyanin, paeonin, cyanidin, delnhinidin, peonidin and malvidin.

【Nature and flavor】 Pungent; bitter; warm

【Functions and indications】 Dispel wind and dampness; promote blood circulation and relieve pain. Mainly used for hemiplegic headache; wind-cold-damp arthralgia; pain caused by falls and blood stasis; eczema; scabies

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 10-15g, double the amount for fresh product. For external use: take appropriate amount and wash with decoction.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The medicinal value of Acer truncatum introduced in the article is of great help to our lives. In fact, many physical illnesses can be treated with some Chinese medicinal herbs such as Acer truncatum. The profound Chinese medicine culture should continue to be passed on.