The efficacy and function of Phytolacca

Traditional Chinese medicine often has unexpected effects in the treatment of certain diseases, so you can choose it with confidence. However, when choosing Chinese medicine, you need to understand the medicine so that when treating the disease, you will know what kind of medicine is the best choice. Let us introduce the traditional Chinese medicine Shanglu.

【English name】RADIX PHYTOLACCAE

[Other names] Flowering scutellaria, Jianzhongxiao [Guizhou, Yunnan], native winter melon, hugging hen, native hen, ground radish, Zhangliu, Jinqiniang, Oyster grass, mountain radish [Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangxi, Fujian]

[Source] This product is the dried root of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. or Phytolacca americana L., plants of the Phytolacca family . Dig up from autumn to the following spring, remove the fibrous roots and mud, cut into pieces or slices, and dry in the sun or in the shade.

[Properties] This product is irregular slices cut horizontally or vertically, with varying thickness. The skin is grayish yellow or grayish brown. The cross-section is curved and uneven, with wrinkled edges and a diameter of 2 to 8 cm; the cut surface is light yellow-brown or yellow-white, and the wood is raised to form several concentric protrusions. The longitudinal slices are curved or curled, 5 to 8 cm long and 1 to 2 cm wide, with the wood presenting parallel strip-like protrusions. Hard texture. It has a slight odor and a slightly sweet taste. Chewing it for a long time will make your tongue numb.

[Identification] Cross section of this product: The cells of Phytolacca americana are in several to more than ten rows. The cortex is narrow. The vascular tissue is a triploblastic structure with several concentric cambium rings, each with dozens of vascular bundles. The outside of the vascular bundle is phloem, and the inside is xylem; there are many wood fibers, which are often connected to each other or surrounded by the vessels. The thin-walled cells contain bundles of calcium oxalate needle crystals, a few calcium oxalate prisms or clusters, and starch granules. The powder is off-white. Calcium oxalate needle crystals are in bundles or scattered, the needle crystals are slender, and the length of the needle crystal bundles is 40 to 72 μm. Calcium oxalate prismatic crystals or cluster crystals can also be seen. Wood fibers are mostly in bundles, with a diameter of 10 to 20 μm, thick or slightly thick walls, and many cross-shaped pits. Cork cells are brown-yellow, rectangular or polygonal, and some contain granular substances. Single starch granules are round or oblong, with a diameter of 3 to 28 μm. The hilum is in the shape of a short slit, dot, star or herringbone, and the stratification is not obvious. There are few compound granules, which are composed of 2 to 3 sub-granules.

[Processing] Raw Rhizoma Phytolaccae : remove impurities, wash, soak thoroughly, cut into thick slices or blocks, and dry.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter, cold; poisonous.

[entry into meridians] Enter the lung, spleen, kidney and large intestine meridians.

【Functions and indications】 Expel water and reduce swelling, facilitate bowel movements, detoxify and resolve stagnation. Used for edema, constipation and constipation; external treatment of carbuncles and sores.

【Usage and Dosage】 3～9g. For external use, mash the fresh product or grind the dry product into powder and apply it.

【Note】 It is forbidden for pregnant women to use.

【Storage】Place in a dry place to prevent mildew and moth.

[Remarks] (1) For patients with edema and difficulty urinating, it is often used in combination with Ginseng, Euphorbia, etc. Use fresh rhubarb, some homemade salt, mash it and apply it externally to treat sores, swellings and pus, and it has a dispersing effect.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Pharmacopoeia

[Source] "Ben Jing"

I believe that friends who were not very clear about Smilax glabra at the beginning should now have mastered the relevant knowledge about Smilax glabra. I hope this article can be helpful to you.