The efficacy and function of blood-enriching potatoes

Most people are already familiar with the Chinese medicine blood-replenishing potato. But in fact, not many people understand the effects and functions of the Chinese medicine blood-replenishing potato, so let’s talk about it below.

[Other names] Seven-leaf potato, blood ginseng, seven-clawed golden dragon

[Source] Medicinal material source: The tuber of Dioscorea zingiberensis, a plant of the Dioscoreaceae family.

[Original form] Dioscorea zingiberensis is a twining herbaceous vine. Except for the leaves with sparse soft hairs that fall off when old, or the leaf veins with soft hairs, the rest of the plant is densely covered with light brown hairs, and the stems have thorns. Palmate compound leaves are alternate; petiole is up to 15cm long, sometimes with thorns; there are 3-5 (-7) leaflets, leaf blade is 7-23cm long, 3-8.5cm wide, apex caudate-acuminate, margin entire or wavy, back gray-green; middle leaflets are needle-shaped oblong to elliptical or broadly obovate, outermost leaflets are obliquely ovate to obliquely ovate. The male inflorescence is a raceme, 2-4 or solitary borne on leafless branches; the male flower pedicel is about 0.5mm long; the outer tepals are triangular-ovate, and the inner ones are nearly oblong; there are 3 stamens, borne at the base of the outer tepals, and alternate with 3 reduced stamens; the female inflorescence is a spike, up to 50cm long, with 2-3 borne in the leaf axils. The capsule is reflexed, triangular-rectangular-obovate, 3.5-5cm long and 2-3cm wide; the seeds are borne at the top of the axis of each room, and the seed wings extend toward the base of the capsule. The flowering period is from October to February of the following year, and the fruiting period is from December to April of the following year.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in the shade and wet places under forests on hillsides and valleys at an altitude of 600-1430m.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; slightly sweet; cool

【Functions and indications】Removing blood stasis and stopping bleeding; reducing swelling and relieving pain. Mainly used for lung fatigue, hemoptysis, hepatosplenomegaly, dysmenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain, and traumatic injuries

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 6-15g. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the detailed introduction above, we have a good understanding of the efficacy and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine blood-enriching potato. I hope this can be helpful to everyone.