Jia Ren Shen, also known as San Ren San Qi, Fei Lai Shen, and Shui Ren Shen, is a medicinal herb used to treat dysentery and insufficient lactation. It is mainly found in Guangdong, Shandong, Taiwan, and other parts of China.
Image of Jia Ren Shen
Plant Morphology of Jia Ren Shen
Perennial herb; short rhizome, bamboo-like, horizontal, with 2 to several fleshy roots;
Fleshy roots cylindrical, about 2-4 centimeters long, about 1 centimeter in diameter, longitudinally wrinkled when dried.
Above-ground stem solitary, about 40 centimeters tall, with longitudinal grooves, glabrous, with persistent scales at the base.
Leaves palmately compound, 4 in a whorl at the stem apex; petiole 4-5 centimeters long, with longitudinal grooves, glabrous;
Stipules small, lanceolate, about 5-6 millimeters long;
Leaflets 3-4, membranous, transparent, obovate to obovate-elliptic, about 9-10 centimeters long and 3.5-4 centimeters wide;
Lateral leaflets smaller, gradually pointed at the apex, tapering at the base, decurrent, with serrate margins and prickly tips, densely pubescent on the upper surface along the veins;
Trichomes about 1.5-2 millimeters long, glabrous on the lower surface, with 8-10 pairs of lateral veins, prominent on both sides, with prominent reticulate veins;
Leaflet petioles 2-10 millimeters long, clustered with trichomes at the junction with the petiole. Umbellate inflorescence solitary, about 3.5 centimeters in diameter, with 20-50 flowers;
Peduncle about 12 centimeters long, with longitudinal grooves, glabrous; pedicel slender, about 1 centimeter long, glabrous; bracts inconspicuous; flowers yellow-green;
Calyx cup-shaped (campanulate in male flowers), with 5 triangular teeth along the margin; petals 5; stamens 5; ovary 2-celled;
Styles 2 (1 in the degenerated pistil of male flowers), free, reflexed. Fruit not observed.
Image of Jia Ren Shen
Value of Jia Ren Shen
1. Edible
After washing the stems and leaves, they can be stir-fried or boiled for soup. The tender stems and leaves can be pickled with salt to make pickles for convenient consumption.
2. Medicinal
The fresh stems and leaves can be mashed and applied externally for swelling and toxins.
Properties and tastes: The whole plant is sweet and neutral.
Effects: The whole plant promotes diuresis and reduces swelling, strengthens the spleen and moistens the lungs, relieves cough, regulates menstruation.
It is used to treat dysentery, diarrhea, damp-heat jaundice, internal hemorrhoids bleeding, insufficient lactation, infantile malnutrition, impetigo, spleen deficiency fatigue, pulmonary tuberculosis with coughing blood, irregular menstruation;
Externally, it is used to treat red, swollen, and painful eyes; leaves are used to promote lactation and reduce swelling and toxins. It is used to treat difficulty urinating, hemorrhoids, and ulcerous swelling.
3. Ornamental
It can be used for flower beds, rockeries, and potted plants.
