The efficacy and function of heather leaves

In daily life, people are not only very familiar with various foods, but also come into contact with a lot of medicines in daily life. Among them, heather is a relatively common Chinese medicinal material. Given that there are still many people who don’t know much about heather, let’s take a detailed look at it below.

[Other names] Wind medicine (Compendium of Materia Medica), Photinia leaves (Bencao Congxin), Luan tea (Gangmu Taiyi), mangrove leaves, stone rock leaves (Handbook of Chinese Medicinal Materials).

[Source] The dried leaves of Photinia fraseri , a plant of the Rosaceae family. Available all year round. After drying, tie into small bundles.

[Original form] Photinia, also known as: Millennium red, pen tree, stone eye tree, fan bone wood, chiseled horn, stone gang, oil wax tree, water red tree.

[Habitat distribution] Often planted in courtyards. Distributed in Henan, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Hubei, Sichuan, Hunan and other places. It is mainly produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other places.

[Properties] The dried leaves are oblong, 8 to 16 cm long, 3 to 6 cm wide, with petioles; the edges have fine and sharp serrations, reddish brown or dark brown on the upper side, slightly lighter on the lower side, with very obvious main veins, and both sides are smooth and hairless. The leaves are thick, leathery and brittle. It has no smell and tastes bitter and astringent. The best ones are brown-yellow and free of impurities.

[Chemical composition] The leaves and branches contain cyanogenic glycosides, but the roots do not.

[Pharmacological action] 10% leaf extract can kill the cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum and Oncomelania snails in test tubes. 70% leaf ethanol extract can inhibit the isolated frog heart, contract the isolated rabbit ear blood vessels, inhibit the isolated intestine, and lower the blood pressure of anesthetized dogs. It has low toxicity to rats. Taking 60 and 100 mg/kg for one month has no effect on growth and no changes in liver and lipid metabolism.

[Preparation] Wash, moisten slightly, cut into shreds and dry in the sun.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter, neutral.

[entry into meridians] Enters the liver and kidney meridians.

【Functions and indications】Dispel wind, dredge meridians, and benefit the kidneys. Treat rheumatism, back pain, kidney deficiency and weak legs, migraine, and urticaria. Dispel wind and nourish the kidney. Used for rheumatic pain in muscles and bones, impotence and spermatorrhea.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 1.5 to 3 qian; or made into pills or powder. For external use: grind into powder and sprinkle or blow into nose.

【Note】 Those with Yin deficiency and excess fire should not take this medicine.

[Additional prescription] ① Treats cramps and numbness of the feet and knees, removes rheumatism, activates blood circulation, and replenishes vital energy: 2 liang each of Heather, Atractylodes macrocephala, Achyranthes bidentata (three-leafed, soaked with wine overnight, and baked dry), Saposhnikovia divaricata, Gastrodia elata, Lycium barbarum, and Astragalus membranaceus (filed), 1.5 liang each of cinnamon (peeled off), and deer antler (roasted with butter, hair removed). Grind the above nine ingredients into powder. Use a papaya, peel it and cook it until it is well cooked. Grind it into a paste and powder. Add a little flour paste and make it into pills as big as sycamore seeds. Take 30 to 50 pills each time, on an empty stomach with warm wine or salt soup. (Shi Nan Wan from Shengji Zonglu)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

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