What are the medicinal values ​​of Buddleja?

Perhaps for most people, Buddleja montana is a very unfamiliar flower. In fact, it is a plant commonly seen on hillsides and riversides. Most of them grow in villages or bushes and grass. In addition to being a herb, Buddleja montana also has rich medicinal value and pharmacological effects. Because it is relatively easy to be found, it is included in Chinese medicinal materials in traditional Chinese medicine. So what are the medicinal values ​​of Buddleja montana?

[Characteristics] Inflorescence consisting of many small flower buds clustered together. The shapes and sizes vary, the surface is grayish yellow or light brown, and it is densely covered with hair. A single flower bud is short stick-shaped, thick at the top and thin at the bottom, 3 to 6 mm long, with a round and slightly swollen apex. The calyx is bell-shaped with 4 lobes, the corolla is tubular, the petals are dark purple, and the hairs are very sparse. The whole body is soft and brittle, and the center of the cross section is black. It has a slight fragrance and tastes sweet with a slight bitter taste. The best ones are those with densely packed buds, grayish yellow in color, fuzzy and soft in texture.

【Nature and flavor】Sweet, cool.

"Kaibao Materia Medica": "It tastes sweet, is mild and slightly cold, and is non-toxic."

【Entry into Meridians】Wang Haogu: "Enters the Liver Meridian."

【Functions and indications】Dispel wind, cool blood, moisten the liver, and improve eyesight. It is used to treat red, swollen and painful eyes, excessive tearing and photophobia, amblyopia, and eye ulcers caused by wind.

Clears the liver and improves eyesight: This product is a special ophthalmic medicine, used for eye diseases caused by blood deficiency and liver heat, and is often combined with wolfberry and dodder seed. To treat eye diseases caused by excess heat in the liver meridian, herbs such as Amaranthus seeds and Chrysanthemum are often used.

① "Kaibao Materia Medica": "It is used to treat amblyopia, skin cataracts, red and astringent eyes with excessive tearing, eliminate red veins in the eyes, bran and bean in children, and malnutrition attacking the eyes."

②Liu Wansu: "It cures photophobia and fear of the sun."

③Wang Haogu: "Moisturizes the liver and relieves dryness."

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 1 to 3 qian; or make into pills or powder.

[Additional prescription] ① Treat wind attack, dark eyes, mucus, photophobia, eyelids with wind, difficulty opening the eyes, itching or pain, gradual formation of cataracts, unclear vision, and long-term migraine, which pulls the eyes, gradually feels smaller, dark and painful, and sudden redness, swelling and pain. Treat all of them: Sophora flavescens (clean), Lithospermum officinale (boil with salt and easterly flowing water for one volt, filter out and grind into powder), Equisetum arvense, Tribulus terrestris (fry and remove the tips), Notopterygium wilfordii (remove the stalk), and Chrysanthemum officinale, equal parts. Grind the above ingredients into fine powder, take one qian each time, mix with Lacha tea, after meals, take twice a day. (Mimenghua powder from Bureau Prescriptions)

②To treat eye cataracts: 1 liang each of Buddleja budsii and Phellodendron chinense root (washed and filed). Grind the above two ingredients into powder, mix with refined honey and make into pills as big as sycamore seeds. Take 10 to 15 pills each time after meals. Take with boiled water or decoction of sugar before going to bed. (Mimenghua Pills from Shengji Zonglu)

③Treat photophobia, liver and gallbladder deficiency, and unclear pupils: Buddleja buddhist, Notopterygium wilfordii, Chrysanthemum, Vitex rotundifolia, Amaranthus australis, Equisetum arvense, Semen cassiae, Tribulus terrestris, and Lycium barbarum. Divide the above ingredients into equal parts, grind into powder, take 3 grams each time, with clear tea after meals. (Silver Sea Essence, Mimenghua Powder)

【Discussions by Various Schools】

① "Ben Cao Jing Shu": "Buddha Buds, according to the "Ben Cao", is nothing but liver deficiency and heat. The liver opens the eyes, and the eyes can see with blood. Liver blood deficiency will cause amblyopia and skin opacity. Severe liver heat will cause red swelling, tears and red veins, as well as residual poison of children's acne and malnutrition attacking the eyes. This medicine is sweet to replenish blood and cold to remove heat. When the liver blood is sufficient, all symptoms will be cured."

② "Compendium of Materia Medica": "The taste of Buddleja is light but its aroma is weak. It is more effective when supplemented with blood-nourishing medicine."

[Note] In Hubei, Sichuan, Guangxi and other places, the fragrant buds of the Thymelaeaceae plant are still used to make Buddleja. The product is commonly known as "New Menghua" or "Menghuazhu", and the Sichuan herbal name is "Menghua", see the "Menghua" entry.

In fact, the medicinal value of Buddleja flower is very rich, especially for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases, organ diseases, and body conditioning. It has a good effect on treating cold hands and feet, poor stomach, and promoting metabolism. Buddleja flower can be decocted and taken, or it can be made into tea with Chinese medicinal materials, which is beneficial to metabolism and replenishing blood and qi.