The efficacy and function of pecan leaves

The Chinese medicinal pecan leaf is already very familiar to most people. But in fact, not many people know the effects and functions of the traditional Chinese medicine pecan leaves, so let’s talk about it below.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leaves of Carya cathayensis, a plant of the Juglandaceae family.

[Original form] Deciduous tree, 10-20m high. The bark is smooth and grayish white; the pith is solid; the winter buds are naked and have no bud scales. Odd-pinnate compound leaves, alternate, 16-30cm long, with 5-7 leaflets, the terminal leaflet and the upper lateral leaflets are of the same shape and size or slightly larger; the leaf blade is lanceolate or obovate-lanceolate, slightly sickle-shaped, 10-18m long, 2-5cm wide, acuminate at the apex, cuneate at the base, slightly oblique, with fine serrations on the edge, green on the upper side, and with orange-yellow glandular scales on the lower side. Flowers are unisexual and monoecious; male catkins are 3 in 1 bundle, axillary, 10-15cm long, with short petioles, no perianth, 1 bract and 2 bracteoles, and 2-7 stamens; female inflorescence is spike-shaped, terminal, erect, with densely glandular inflorescence axis, 1-3 flowers, no perianth, 1 bract located in the front, 3 bracteoles located on both sides and back, fused with the bracts to form a 4-lobed pitcher-shaped involucre, adnate to the ovary, the ovary is inferior, without style, and the stigma is disc-shaped. The fruit is obovate, drupe-like, with 4 narrow wing-like longitudinal ridges, split into 4 lobes when ripe, the endocarp is hard and bony, light grayish yellow, 1mm thick, and acute at the apex; there are no gaps in the septum and wall, and the cotyledons are deeply divided into 2 parts. The flowering period is April-May, and the fruiting period is September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in mountain forests at an altitude of 400-1200m or in valleys rich in humus.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; astringent; cool

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies; kills insects and relieves itching. Main symptoms: wet and itchy toes; skin ringworm

【Usage and Dosage】 For external use: appropriate amount, decocted into water, used for fumigation or washing; or mashed into juice and applied.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above content is an introduction to the Chinese medicinal pecan leaf. I hope it can be of some help to everyone. There are many medicinal herbs similar to pecan leaves in our daily life. We need to follow the doctor's instructions when taking Chinese medicine such as pecan leaves and not take them blindly.