(British) JapaneseSnailseedRoot

Alias Fangji, Fangji, Inula officinalis and Aquilaria sinensis.

The source is the root of Stephania tetrandra (Thunb.) DC. Plant morphology twining woody vines. The roots are irregular cylindrical, and the skin is yellow and exhausted. Branchlets are longitudinally striated and pilose. Leaves alternate, ovoid or broadly ovoid or ovoid-oblong, 4 ~14 cm long and 2.5 ~ 6 cm wide, with varied apex shape, rounded, wedge-shaped or heart-shaped base and pubescent on both sides; Petiole short, hairy. Flowers unisexual, cymes arranged in cones; Sepals 6, 2 whorls; Petals 6, pale yellow, 2 rounds; Male flowers with stamens 6, inserted on opposite petals; The female flower has 6 staminodes and 6 carpels. Drupe is nearly spherical, blue and black, with white powder. The flowering period is May to August, and the fruiting period is August to September.

Born in hills, hillsides, roadsides, shrubs and sparse forests. Location: East China, South China and Southwest China.

Collect and dig roots all year round, wash, slice and dry.

Trait roots are irregular cylindrical with a diameter of about 1.5cm. The surface is yellow or grayish brown, slightly uneven, with obvious longitudinal grooves and a few transverse wrinkles. Hard, yellow-white cross-section, radial texture. It tastes bitter.

Chemical constituents of roots contain many alkaloids, such as magnoflorine, trilobine, isotrilobine, homotetrandrine, trilobamine, normenisarine and colobine.

Cold in nature, bitter and pungent in taste. Functions: expelling wind and relieving pain, promoting diuresis and clearing swelling, detoxicating and lowering blood pressure. For rheumatism, neuralgia, nephritis, edema and urinary tract infection; External treatment of traumatic injury and snake bite.

Remind you that this Chinese herbal medicine is from the Internet. Please follow the doctor's advice before using it.