The efficacy and function of magnolia officinalis

The efficacy and function of the Chinese medicine Meris leaf are very great. We can often see Meris leaf in our lives. Utilizing the medicinal and therapeutic properties of Meris leaf will bring us many unexpected benefits in health care. Let's take a look at the Chinese medicine Meris leaf.

[Other names] holly leaf, cat thorn, holly thorn, star anise tea, mouse thorn, Mahonia leaf, tiger thorn, dog ancient thorn, Sanxuedan, star anise thorn, sheep horn thorn, mouse afraid

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leaves of Holly, a plant of the Aquifoliaceae family.

[Original form] Holly is an evergreen small tree or shrub, 3-8m tall. The bark is grayish white and smooth. The leaves are hard leathery, oblong-square, 4-8cm long and 2-4cm wide, with 3 hard thorns at the tip, the central thorn is recurved, the base is truncate, and there are 1-2 thorns on each side, with a short tip and a rounded base. The surface is dark green and shiny, the back is yellow-green, and both sides are hairless. Dioecious or occasionally polygamous, clustered in the leaf axils of 2-year-old branches; flowers yellow-green, 4-merous; calyx cup-shaped, small; petals flaring outward, obovate to oblong, about 2.5mm long, about 1.5mm wide, fused at the base; stamens 4, filaments about 3mm long; ovary 4-chambered, style very short. The drupe is berry-like, spherical, bright red when ripe, 4-8mm in diameter; it has 4 cores and is bone-like. The flowering period is April-May, and the fruiting period is September-October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in mixed woods or shrubs on hillsides, valleys, and stream sides.

[Cultivation] Biological characteristics: It likes plenty of sunlight, but can also tolerate shade and has poor cold resistance. It grows well in warm climates and well-drained acidic or neutral fertile soils. It grows slowly, has strong germination ability, is resistant to pruning and harmful gases.

[Properties] Identification by properties: The leaves are rectangular or oblong-square, occasionally oblong, 3-8cm long and 1-3cm wide. There are three larger hard thorns at the tip, the top one is often recurved, the base is flat or broadly cuneate, and there are sometimes 1-3 thorns on each side, with slightly curled edges; long oval leaves often have no thorns. The upper surface is yellow-green or green-brown and shiny, while the lower surface is gray-yellow or gray-green. The leaf veins are pinnate and the petioles are short. Leathery, hard and thick. It has a faint smell and a slightly bitter taste. The ones with large and green leaves are the best.

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【Pharmacological action】 1. Increased coronary flow and cardiotonic effect: Holly injection (aqueous solution treated with ethanol and sodium bisulfite) has the effect of increasing coronary flow and strengthening myocardial contractility when perfused into isolated guinea pig hearts.

[Toxicity] Holly has low toxicity. It was gavaged into mice at a dose of about 60 times the clinical dose for adults (50g/kg per day) for 5 consecutive days, and no toxic reaction was observed.

[Processing] Take the original medicinal materials, remove impurities, wash, steam for a while, cut into strips, and dry.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; Cool

【Meridian】 Liver; Kidney

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat; benefits the liver and kidneys; eliminates rheumatism. It is mainly used for heat due to yin deficiency; cough and hemoptysis; dizziness; soreness of waist and knees; rheumatic pain; vitiligo

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 9-15g. For external use: take appropriate amount, mash into juice or boil into paste for application.

【Note】 People with weak spleen and stomach and insufficient kidney yang should take it with caution.

[Additional prescription] Chen Cangqi said: "The wood texture is white like bone, so it is called holly." Its leaves are curled, pointed and have thorns, shaped like animal claws, so it is also known as cat thorn, holly thorn, and tiger thorn. The leaves often contain star anise, so it is also called star anise tea or star anise thorn.

【Discussions by various scholars】 1. "Compendium of Materia Medica" says: "Holy wood grows mostly in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The wood is white like bone, hence the name. People in the south use it to make box containers, which are very good. "Book of Songs·Xiaoya" says: There are hollies in the southern mountains. Lu Ji said: It is a mountain tree, and its shape is like a castor tree. It is also called holly. This is the one with white texture that can be used to make boxes." 2. "Compendium of Materia Medica": "The holly tree is like Ligustrum lucidum, but with a very white texture. The leaves are two to three inches long, green, thick and hard, with five thorns, and never wither. In May, fine white flowers bloom. The fruits are like Ligustrum lucidum and Smilax china, and when ripe in September, they are scarlet, with a thin skin and sweet taste, and the core has four petals. People collect the bark of the tree and boil it into a paste to stick to birds, which is called sticky (Heli)." 3. "Ben Cao Jing Shu": On the effect of the leaves of the laurel to eliminate phlegm and fire, clear heat and cool blood. Miao Xiyong: "The secret recipe is to boil the leaves and drink it, which is very effective in treating phlegm and fire. Phlegm and fire are caused by yin deficiency and fire, which burns the lungs and boils the body fluids. This medicine goes directly into the foot Shaoyin meridian, nourishes the yin, and then the phlegm and fire will disappear, just like removing the firewood from the bottom of the pot. It can also disperse wind poison and malignant sores. In the past, there was an old prostitute who suffered from bayberry poison for thirty years. A Taoist taught her to take this medicine alone, and the sores healed and the color became less, all thanks to its effect of clearing heat and cooling blood."

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Everyone should know about the medicinal value of Chinese magnolia vine. We should pay more attention to information in this area so that we can be prepared when encountering problems and avoid panic.