Yexianghua, Chinese medicine name, also known as Xieye Yeshanghua, Yipinhong, Yeshanghua, is the whole herb of the Euphorbia lunulata, a plant of the Euphorbiaceae family. It is cultivated in various parts of China and major botanical gardens. It has the effects of cooling blood and regulating menstruation, dispersing blood stasis, and reducing swelling. It is mainly used for excessive menstruation, external injuries with swelling and pain, bleeding, fractures, and other conditions.
[Plant Morphology]
An annual herb, about 1 meter tall. Stem solitary. It has oblique ascending and spreading stout branches, sparsely covered with short pubescence or glabrous. The lower and middle leaves of the stem are opposite, and the lower leaves of the inflorescence are opposite; leaf petiole is 2-3 cm long; stipules glandular; leaf shape varies, ovate, elliptic, lanceolate, or linear, 4-10 cm long, 2.5-5 cm wide, pinnately divided or undivided, with wavy shallow teeth or pointed teeth or entire margin, sparsely covered with short pubescence on both sides; the lower leaves of the inflorescence are usually red at the base or entirely red.
The cup-shaped umbel inflorescences are densely arranged in umbel-like clusters at the stems and branch tips; the involucre is campanulate, green, 3-4 mm wide, 5-lobed at the apex; glands 1-2, cup-shaped, without petaloid appendages. Male flowers 20 or more, bracts membranous, apex torn; ovary ovoid, 3-celled; styles 3, adnate, apex shallowly lobed. Capsule ovoid-trigonous, about 5 mm in diameter, glabrous; seeds ovoid, gray-brown, with warty protuberances, without caruncle. Flowering and fruiting period is in August.
[Distribution]
It is cultivated in various parts of China and major botanical gardens, and also grows wild in Guizhou.
[Harvesting and Processing]
It can be harvested throughout the year. Clean and use fresh or dry.
[Medicinal Properties]
The whole herb can reach 80 cm in length. Leaves are opposite; leaf shape varies, ovate, elliptic, lanceolate, or linear, with the middle and lower leaves being 4-10 cm long and 2.5-5 cm wide, pinnately divided or undivided; leaf petiole is 2-3 cm long; the lower leaves of the inflorescence are purple-red at the base or entirely purple-red. The cup-shaped inflorescences are densely arranged in umbel-like clusters at the stems and branch tips; the involucre is campanulate, 3-4 mm wide, 5-lobed at the apex; glands 1-2, cup-shaped, without petaloid appendages. The capsule is nearly spherical, about 5 mm in diameter, glabrous; seeds are ovoid, with warty protuberances.
[Properties and Tastes]
Cold in nature, bitter and astringent in taste. Belongs to the liver meridian.
[Efficacy and Actions]
Yexianghua has the effects of cooling blood and regulating menstruation, dispersing blood stasis, and reducing swelling. It is mainly used for excessive menstruation, external injuries with swelling and pain, bleeding, fractures, etc. It is classified as a warming meridian hemostatic drug in the category of hemostatics.
[Chemical Constituents]
It contains IV-acetylamino-galactose.
[Pharmacological Actions]
It does not have a killing effect on schistosomiasis, but it has a significant diuretic effect on patients with ascites due to schistosomiasis; it has strong laxative effects.
The hot water extracts of Yexianghua flowers and leaves have inhibitory effects on Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37, while the stem and root extracts are ineffective. The leaves or plant sap contain toxic components, and ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, delirium, and other symptoms.
[Related Prescriptions]
① For excessive menstruation, contusions and injuries: 6-9 grams of Yexianghua. Decoction, taken twice a day. (From "Wenshan Chinese Herbal Medicine")
② For bleeding from external injuries, fractures: Apply an appropriate amount of fresh Yexianghua leaves to the affected area, change the dressing once every 2-3 days. (From "Wenshan Chinese Herbal Medicine")
[Clinical Applications]
Internal administration: Decoction, 3-9 grams. External application: Appropriate amount, apply fresh product. It is mainly used for excessive menstruation, external injuries with swelling and pain, bleeding, fractures.
"Hebei Chinese Herbal Medicine": "Can be used for chronic bronchitis."
