Coptis chinensis

Coptis chinensis

(selected Chinese herbal medicines from Simao, Yunnan)

Meng he (Dai name).

[source] it is the fruit and leaf of Yunnan pistil.

[plant morphology] Yunnan pistil wood, also known as Meigui.

Evergreen trees, 4 m high. The bark is gray brown and the young branches are slightly hairy. Single leaf opposite; elliptic oblong or elliptic, 10-17 cm long, 3-5 cm wide, apex acuminate, entire, smooth, leathery. Cyme complex racemose, terminal; calyx small, 5-lobed, oval oblong, 4 mm long; corolla white, high foot discoid, tube slender, 3 cm long, throat hairy; corolla lobes lanceolate, stamens in corolla tube near top depression, filaments short and soft; disk composed of 2 strip lanceolate ligulate; style 2.5 cm long. Drupe elliptic, 3.5 cm long, fleshy, red when ripe, black when dry.

It is distributed in Yunnan.

[collection] fruit, harvest in autumn. It can be harvested all year round.

Bitter, pungent, warm and poisonous.

[function indications] it can relieve inflammation and pain, relax muscles and activate collaterals. Treatment of pharyngitis, tonsillitis, rheumatism, bone pain, numbness of limbs.

[usage and dosage] oral administration: fruit: decoction, 1-2 yuan; or soaking in wine. Topical: leaf: wash the affected area with boiling water.