The efficacy and function of hourglass reed root

Do you know about the hourglass reed root? It is a common medicinal material. Generally, hourglass reed root is used as raw material in many places. It can also treat many physical diseases. Let’s take a look at the relevant knowledge about hourglass reed root.

【Other name】 Sand orchid

[Source] Medicinal material source: The root of Echinops serrata, a plant of the Asteraceae family.

[Original form] Sand bluethorn is an annual or perennial herb, 30-60cm tall. Unbranched or branched at the base, with glandular hairs. Leaves are alternate; without petiole; leaf blades are linear-lanceolate, 2-5cm long, 1-1.5cm wide, with sharp tip, semi-amplexicaul base, with white hard thorns on the edges, thorns about 5mm long, light yellow-green on both sides, upper leaves with remote hairs, lower leaves with cottony hairs. The compound inflorescence is solitary at the end of the branch, spherical, about 3cm in diameter, white or light blue; the outer involucre of the small inflorescence is white pappus-like bristles, completely separated; the outer tip of the inner bract is pointed and awn-shaped, the upper end is sucillate, and the upper edge has no feathery eye hairs; the corolla tube is white, about 3mm long, with 5 lobes, linear, light blue, and equal in length to the tube. Achenes densely pubescent; pappus united at lower part. Flowering period is from June to September.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The root is inverted cone shape, relatively small, with a complete length of 15-25cm and a diameter of 4-8mm. There is no fibrous petiole vascular bundle at the root head, but there are a few white cotton hairs. The surface is earthy or light yellow with fine longitudinal wrinkles, and there are often rootlets at the bottom; the texture is hard and not easy to break, the cross section is yellow-white and flaky, without the yellow and black chrysanthemum pattern; the smell is faint and the taste is light.

【Nature and flavor】 Salty; bitter; cold

【Functions and indications】 Clearing away heat and detoxifying; promoting lactation; discharging pus. It is mainly used for sores, carbuncle, swelling and pain; milk obstruction; mastitis; lymphadenitis and tuberculosis; costal gland inflammation; hemorrhoid fistula

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 6-12g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

In the above, we introduced what the hourglass reed root is and understood the effects and functions of the hourglass reed root. The hourglass reed root can improve our immunity. The hourglass reed root also has a therapeutic effect in health preservation and has many benefits to our body.