Ma Guihua is a traditional Chinese medicine vine shrub, 1-2 meters tall. The stem is cylindrical, usually upright, yellow-brown in color, with numerous lenticels. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate or elongate-lanceolate, 2.5-8 centimeters long, 1.5-3.5 centimeters wide, blunt or rounded at the apex, wedge-shaped at the base, with coarse serrations on the upper edge, and with up to 10-15 pairs of lateral veins; the leaf stalk is about 6-8 millimeters long. The short raceme is axillary, 12 millimeters long; the pedicel is 2-3 millimeters long; the flowers are small; the calyx has 5 lobes, lanceolate in shape; the corolla has 5 petals; the stamens are attached to the base of the petals. The fruit is flattened and spherical, yellow-red when ripe, with one seed inside.
Properties of Ma Guihua
"Sweet and sour in taste, neutral in nature." - "Selected Yunnan Medicinal Herbs"
Functions and Indications of Ma Guihua
"Expels parasites, dispels wind and dampness. Treats tapeworm disease." - "Selected Yunnan Medicinal Herbs"
Usage and Dosage of Ma Guihua
Oral administration: Decoction, 3-5 qian.