Red chopsticks

Red chopsticks

(collection of common folk herbs)

[synonym] shanmatoo (Emei medicinal plant).

[source] it is the whole plant of Liulan, a family of Salicaceae.

[plant morphology] willow orchid

Herbs erect, perennial, ca. 1-1.5 m tall, usually unbranched. Rhizome transverse, reddish brown. Stem cylindrical, hollow, glabrous or sparsely pilose. Leaves alternate, lanceolate, 4-15 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, apex acuminate, margin denticulate or nearly entire, both surfaces puberulent, shortly stipitate. Raceme terminal or solitary in leaf axils; bract 1, linear; calyx base slightly united, apex 4-lobed, lobes linear lanceolate; petals 4, purplish red, oblong or obovate, apex rounded, 2 cm long, 1.8 cm wide; stamens 8, unequal; ovary 4-locular, stigma 4-lobed. The capsule is cylindrical, 5-7.5cm long, with many seeds and a cluster of white tassels at the top. The flowering period is July to August.

Of river banks or valleys and swamps. It is distributed in the north of China, Sichuan, Hubei and Yunnan.

The root (glutinous taro) and seed tassel (red chopsticks crown hair) of this plant are also used for medicine. Please refer to the special section for details.

[collection] harvest in summer and autumn. Dry or fresh.

[chemical constituents] the leaves contain about 10% tannin, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, maastric acid, 2 α - hydroxyursolic acid, β - sitosterol, octadecane and hexadecanol. A kind of water-soluble toxic phenolic polymer was isolated from the flowers, which was named Liulan polyphenol. Its molecular weight was about 100000, and it could inhibit the growth of transplanted tumor in mice.

[pharmacological action] the extract of leaves has anti-inflammatory effect.

[nature and taste] Sichuan records of traditional Chinese medicine: "bitter in taste, flat in nature, non-toxic. "

[functions and indications] ① collection of commonly used folk herbal medicines: "lower milk, moisten intestines. "

② Sichuan Traditional Chinese medicine annals: "it is used to treat Qi deficiency and edema, smooth bowel, fullness of food and swelling of renal capsule. "

[usage and dosage] oral administration: decoction, 0.5-1 Liang.

[Formula] lower milk: stewed pig feet with red chopsticks. (collection of common folk herbs)