Alpinia angustifolia

Alpinia angustifolia

(list of medicinal plants in Guangxi)

[synonyms] baimianma, hongtougen, shanbajiao (Guangxi Medicinal plant directory), chuanguchong, fangjinteng, Niudi Teng (Fujian Chinese herbal medicine).

[source] it is the root or root bark of Cynanchum chinense.

[plant morphology] Ranunculus Japonicus

Creeping or climbing shrubs. Branches slender, internodes long. Leaves opposite, stipitate, oblong lanceolate or obovate, oblong, 4-12 cm long, 1.5-3.5 cm wide, apex short pointed or obtuse, base narrow, glabrous or slightly rough above, glabrous or pilose below; stipules membranous, sheathlike, 2-5 mm long. There are 4-8 synthetic terminal, sessile, umbelliform flower clusters in the head; each head has 6-12 flowers, the peduncle is 13-26 mm long; the flowers are white, sessile; the sepals are short, truncate; the Corolla is saucer shaped, less than 5 mm long, 4-lobed; the stamens are 4, the filaments are short; the style is thin, with 2 stigmas. The fruit is globular, 10-15 mm in diameter. The flowering period is from May to July.

Born in small trees on the edge of wild forest. Distributed in Fujian, Guangdong, Yunnan and other places.

[collection] it can be harvested all year round, fresh or dried in the sun.

[chemical constituents] the roots and stems contain the following anthraquinones: 2-hydroxyanthraquinone, alizarin, alizarin-1-methyl ether, alizarin, alizarin-1-methyl ether, alizarin, alizarin-2-methyl ether, 1-hydroxy-2-methyl anthraquinone, 2-methyl anthraquinone and 1-methoxy-2-methyl anthraquinone. The root also contains alizarin, lustre and the glycosides of alizarin and alizarin-1-methyl ether.

Stem and leaf also contain stigmasterol, β - sitosterol and ursolic acid.

[nature and taste] Fujian Chinese herbal medicine: "root: pungent, slightly sweet, warm. "

[function indications] dispel wind and dampness. Treatment of joint swelling and pain, kidney deficiency lumbago.

① "Guangxi medicine plant directory": "root: dispel wind and dampness, detumescence, detoxification. "

② Fujian Chinese herbal medicine: "root bark: dispel wind dampness, warm kidney qi. "

[usage and dosage] oral administration: decoct in water and wine, 1-2 Liang.

[prescription selection] ① for kidney deficiency and low back pain: five to one or two pieces of dried root bark of Alpinia angustifolia, plus pig bone. Take it in water. (Fujian Chinese herbal medicine)

② Treatment of rheumatic arthritis pain: one to two stems of Capricornus. Stewed with wine. (Fujian Chinese herbal medicine)