TCM believes that Chinese herbal medicine Didi Lao has the effects of dispelling wind and activating collaterals, promoting blood circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. It is mainly used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, lumbago, limb paralysis, dysmenorrhea, and traumatic swelling and pain. Now let's understand the original plant morphology of Didi Lao and the opinions of famous scholars.
【Original Plant Morphology of Didi Lao】
Lunye Mujiangzi is a shrub or small tree, 2-5m tall. The twigs are densely covered with yellow long stiff hairs, but they soon fall off. The leaves are nearly leathery, with 4-5 whorls; lanceolate or inverted lanceolate elliptic, 10-22cm long, and 2-6cm wide;
The apex is slightly pointed, the base is blunt or nearly round, with no hairs on the upper surface, only the midrib is covered with short soft hairs at first, the lower surface is pale gray or yellow-brown, and covered with yellow soft hairs; petiole is 2-6mm long, densely covered with long soft hairs.
Umbellate inflorescences are densely arranged on the upper part of the twigs; the total peduncle is 1-2cm long, covered with yellow-brown soft hairs; the total bracts are 4-7, covered with gray-brown silk hairs, with 7-8 flowers inside each bract; sepals are 4, lanceolate;
There are 9 stamens, with long filaments and long soft hairs. The fruit of Lunye Mujiangzi is ovoid, about 1cm long, with a pointed tip. The flowering period is from April to November, and the fruiting period is from November to January of the following year.
【Habitat Distribution】
Didi Lao grows in valleys, by riversides, in shrubs, or mixed forests. It is distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and other places.
【Collection and Storage】
Didi Lao is harvested in spring and summer, washed, and can be used fresh or dried.
【Opinions of Famous Scholars】
1. "Luchuan Materia Medica": The stems and leaves can disperse blood stasis and reduce swelling. It is used to treat traumatic swelling and toxicity.
2. "Guangxi Medicinal Plant Catalog": The roots can expel wind, promote qi circulation, and treat pulmonary tuberculosis and deficiency. The stems and leaves can treat snake bites.
