The efficacy and function of Acanthopanax radix

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

[Other names] Stone maple, stone vegetable, stone ginseng, light-leaved five-leaf ginseng

[Source] Medicinal material source: the stem bark and root bark of the Araliaceae plant Panax notoginseng.

[Original form] Evergreen tree or creeping shrub, 5-15m high. The bark is gray and cracked; the twigs are thick, cylindrical, and dark purple-brown. The leaves are pinnate compound leaves with 3-5, rarely 7 leaflets; petiole 10-15cm long, glabrous or with sparse short soft hairs, sometimes denser at the top; petiolule 3-10mm long; no stipules, leaflets papery to thinly leathery, elliptic-ovate, 6-12cm long, 2.5-6cm wide; apex acuminate, base nearly rounded and slightly oblique, margin with spiny serrations; glabrous above, glabrous below or with short soft hairs along the veins. The corymbose panicle is terminal, 8-15cm long, with a short main axis, 1-2cm long, 8-12 branches, arranged in corymbose on the main axis, with short soft hairs; the umbel is 2-2.5cm in diameter, with many flowers, the peduncle is 1-3cm long, glabrous or slightly short soft hairs; the pedicel is 5-10mm long, glabrous or slightly short soft hairs; the flower is white; the calyx is glabrous, about 2mm long, with 5 small teeth on the edge; the petals are 5, usually connate into a cap, caducous early, about 2mm long; the stamens are 5, shorter than the petals; the ovary is inferior, 5-chambered, and the style is connate into a column. The drupe is ovoid, about 4mm long, with 5 edges, brown-black, and the persistent style is 1.5-2mm long. The flowering period is July-August, and the fruiting period is September-October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in forest edge thickets and valleys at an altitude of 2200-3300m.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The bark is often curled or flaky, and the outer surface is grayish yellow to purple-brown. Half-moon-shaped petiole shedding marks can be seen on the surface of the branch bark.

[Pharmacological Action] The ethanol extract of the fruit of Panax notoginseng has a killing effect on human sperm, which is due to the presence of oleanolic acid (0.01%) and triterpenoid glycosides (1.2%).

【Nature and flavor】 Slightly bitter; astringent; slightly warm

【Functions and indications】 Expel wind and dampness; dispel cold and relieve pain; relieve cough and asthma. Mainly used for rheumatic pain, stomach pain, cough, asthma

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 6-15g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the detailed introduction to the effects of Acanthopanax affine in this article, we can learn about the major effects of Acanthopanax affine. These effects are indeed a good way to regulate the body for people with poor physical constitution and low resistance. Everyone can try it.