There are many wild flowers and fruits growing in rural areas, which are likely to be medicinal herbs. Sourwood is the branch, leaves, or roots of the plant Oxalis corniculata, which belongs to the Oxalidaceae family. The fruit of Oxalis corniculata is called sourwood fruit in traditional Chinese medicine, and both sourwood and sourwood fruit have the effect of clearing heat and stopping bleeding. Let's explore the efficacy and functions of sourwood together if you have any doubts!
【Medicinal Characteristics of Sourwood】
Characteristics: The leaves are often curled, and after being flattened, they are oblong to elliptical in shape, 3-5.5cm long and 1-2.5cm wide. The apex is blunt or slightly concave, and the base is wedge-shaped. The leaves have smooth edges and indistinct lateral veins.
The petioles are short, about 5-3mm long. Sometimes small cylindrical branches can be seen, varying in length, and purple-brown in color. It has a slight aroma and sour taste.
Microscopic identification of sourwood leaves: The upper epidermal cells are larger in size, with various shapes and sizes, and the outer walls are thickened and keratinized.
The lower epidermal cells are smaller, rounded to flattened square in shape, and the outer walls are thickened and keratinized.
The palisade tissue consists of 1-2 rows of cells of varying lengths and passes through the midvein. The vascular bundle is collateral, surrounded by fibrovascular bundles.
The lower epidermis of the midvein has 2-4 rows of thickened and keratinized cells. The leaf parenchyma and thin-walled tissue contain secretory ducts and yellow-brown substances.
【Efficacy and Functions of Sourwood】
Sourwood has the effects of clearing heat, detoxification, promoting blood circulation, and stopping bleeding. It is used to treat red and swollen throat, gum bleeding, dysentery, diarrhea, ulcers, itchy skin, hemorrhoids, and injuries from falls.
1. "Luchuan Materia Medica": It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. It is used to treat oral inflammation, pharyngitis, gum inflammation, ulcers, etc. It can also detoxify the poison of large tea, Mu Ru, and Ba Dou.
2. "Nanning Medicinal Records": It has insecticidal, anti-swelling, and digestive effects. It is externally used to treat injuries, open sores, and internally used to treat internal and external hemorrhoids (and for external washing), sore throat, and foot pain (by cooking dog feet).
3. "Common Chinese Herbal Medicine Manual of Guangzhou Military": It can promote blood circulation, relieve pain, and astringe the intestines to stop diarrhea. It is used to treat bruises and pain from falls, enteritis and diarrhea, and sore throat.
【The Medicinal Effects of Sourwood】
"Sourwood" is also known as white-backed sourwood, cannon vine, penetrating dragon, sky conqueror, chicken mother sour, sea dragon, underworld dragon, sour vinegar wood, mainly distributed in Jiangxi, Hainan, Guangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Yunnan, etc.
Sourwood is a climbing shrub, 1-3 meters long, and grows in grasslands, shrubs, or forests. Its leaves are curled and have a sour taste, which can quench thirst.
Sometimes when farmers go to work in the mountains without water, they will temporarily chew on its leaves, which can relieve thirst. Its branches are cylindrical and mostly purple-brown in color.
