Three-needle is the root bark or stem bark of plants in the Berberidaceae family, such as Berberis thunbergii, Berberis kansuensis, and Mahonia bealei. It is distributed in Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, and other areas. It has the effects of clearing heat, promoting diuresis, and dispersing stasis. It is mainly used for the treatment of dysentery, jaundice, sore throat, and injuries from falls or blows.
Three-needle image
【Contraindications】
Three-needle should be used with caution in people with weak spleen and stomach.
【Morphology of Three-needle's Original Plants】
1. Berberis thunbergii
It is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 2 meters tall. The stem is cylindrical, with slight longitudinal ridges, smooth and hairless, and pale red when young. The flowers are clustered, 4 to 8 in number, and yellow in color, with a diameter of about 1 centimeter. The petals are inverted ovate, concave at the apex, with nectaries at the base. The stamens are 6, opposite the petals, with short filaments. The ovary has 2-3 ovules, without a style, and the stigma is shield-shaped.
The berry is ovoid, about 6-7 millimeters long, dark green or blue-black, with a slight powdery coating, containing 2-3 seeds.
2. Berberis kansuensis
It is a deciduous shrub that is 1 to 2 meters tall. The branches have grooves, with green and hairy young branches, and yellowish-gray hairless or nearly hairless old branches. The thorns are usually three-pronged, 2 to 3 centimeters long. The petals are pale yellow, 5 millimeters long, and the ovary has 1-2 ovules. The berry is rectangular, about 9 millimeters long, and blood red in color.
3. Mahonia bealei
It is a deciduous shrub that is 1.6 to 2.5 meters tall, with a thick and straight root. The stem is erect or clustered, red when young, and the flowers, 1 to 2 in number, are borne on short branches. The floral whorls have 6 yellow petals. The berry is elongated, turning red or purplish-black when ripe.
