Sugar Mustard, Chinese medicine name. It is the whole grass and seeds of the cruciferous plant sugar mustard, which has the effects of tonifying the spleen and stomach, diuresis and cardiac strengthening.
Sugar Mustard Image
Morphological Characteristics of Sugar Mustard
Sugar Mustard is an annual or biennial herb, 30-60 cm tall, densely covered with spreading 2-forked hairs;
The stem is erect, unbranched or branched above, with edges.
The leaves are lanceolate or long elliptic, the basal leaves are 5-15 cm long and 5-20 mm wide, with an acute apex, gradually narrowing at the base, entire margin, and 2-forked hairs on both sides;
The petiole is 1.5-2 cm long; the upper leaves are short-stalked or stalkless, and the base is nearly clasping the stem, with wavy teeth or nearly entire margin on the edge.
The inflorescence is terminal, with numerous flowers; the sepals are long elliptic, 5-7 mm long, densely covered with 2-forked hairs, and the edge is white and membranous;
The petals are orange-yellow, inverted lanceolate, 10-14 mm long, with fine veins, rounded apex, and long claw at the base; the stamens are 6, nearly equal in length.
The silique is linear, 4.5-8.5 cm long, about 1 mm wide, slightly quadrangular, the style is about 1 mm long, the stigma is 2-lobed, and the lobes have raised midribs; the pedicel is 5-7 mm long, obliquely spreading upward.
There is 1 row of seeds per chamber, elongated, flattened, 1-1.5 mm long, dark reddish-brown. Flowering period is from June to August, and fruiting period is from July to September.
Habitat and Distribution of Sugar Mustard
Sugar Mustard grows in sandy areas and sunny slopes. It is distributed in Tibet and other places.
Efficacy of Sugar Mustard
Sugar Mustard clears heat from the blood, suppresses cough, and strengthens the heart. It is used to treat fever in consumptive diseases, cough caused by pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic illness with insufficient cardiac function, and can relieve toxins.
Indications of Sugar Mustard
Sugar Mustard tonifies the spleen and stomach, promotes diuresis, and strengthens the heart.
Dosage and Administration of Sugar Mustard
Oral administration: Decoction, 1-3 qian (3-9 grams).
