【Alias】: Sour Vine, Sour Fruit Vine, Chicken Mother Sour, Big Sour Vine.
【Source】: Sour Vine (Oxalis corniculata) is the root, branches, and leaves of the plant in the Oxalidaceae family. In addition, the fruits of Sour Vine are also used in medicine. Identification features: It is an evergreen shrub with a vine-like growth habit, reaching a height of 1-3 meters. The young branches are hairless, while the old branches have gray-white spots.
The leaves are alternate, simple, with slightly fleshy young leaves that have a sour taste, hence the name Sour Vine. The leaf blades are obovate or elongated obovate, usually measuring 3-4 cm in length and 1-1.5 cm in width, with some reaching up to 7 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width. The apex is rounded and slightly concave, and the base gradually narrows. The edges are entire, and both sides are hairless without glandular dots. The petiole is 5-8 mm long and hairless. The flowers bloom from December to March of the following year, with white or slightly yellowish flowers arranged in axillary or lateral inflorescences. The inflorescence is 3-8 mm long, with 3-4 flowers. The calyx has 4 sepals and the corolla has 4 petals. There are 4 stamens. The fruits mature from April to June, with spherical fruits measuring about 5 mm in diameter. They turn purple-red or purple-black when ripe and have a sour and sweet taste. It is found on mountain slopes, hillsides, wastelands, village edges, roadsides, sparse forests, and shrubs. It is produced in Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, and other provinces and regions; it is also found in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and other places. The roots, branches, and leaves can be harvested throughout the year, washed, and sliced (roots) or cut into sections (branches and leaves) for fresh use or dried for future use. The fruits are harvested when ripe in summer, steamed, and dried for future use.
Taste and Functions: Sour Vine has a sour and astringent taste, and is neutral in nature. It has the functions of clearing heat and detoxifying, astringing and stopping diarrhea, promoting blood circulation, and dispersing stasis. Sour Vine fruits have a sweet and sour taste, and are neutral in nature. They have the functions of strengthening and nourishing blood, and promoting blood circulation. Dosage: 15-30g for roots and branches; 10-15g for fruits.
【Precautions】: Not suitable for pregnant women.
【Prescriptions with Sour Vine】:
1. For enteritis, dysentery, and sore throat, take 30g of Sour Vine roots, decoct with water and drink.
2. For tinea capitis in children, take 1.5kg of Sour Vine roots, decoct with water to make a concentrated soup, warm wash the affected area twice a day. Repeat for 3 days.
3. For prolapsed anus and uterine prolapse, take 30g of Sour Vine roots, 15g of castor bean roots, and 25g of Le Lu roots (Gomphrena officinalis roots). Add chicken meat, simmer and drink.
4. For sore throat and tonsillitis, take 15g of Sour Vine roots, decoct with water and gargle.
5. For pharyngitis, take 15g of Sour Vine roots and 15g of Gang Mei, decoct with water and drink.
6. For anemia, take 30g of Sour Vine fruits, decoct with water and drink.
7. For eczema, take an appropriate amount of Sour Vine leaves, decoct with water and wash the affected area.
8. For dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea, take 30g of Sour Vine roots, decoct with water and drink.
9. For bruises and swelling, take fresh Sour Vine leaves, mash them, mix with alcohol, heat, and apply to the affected area.
10. For vitamin C deficiency, take 30g of fresh ripe Sour Vine fruits, wash with boiling water, eat the skin and pulp (remove the seeds).
11. For neurodermatitis, take an appropriate amount of fresh Sour Vine roots, decoct with water and wash the affected area. At the same time, take 10g of Water Star Anise leaves (the leaves of Gomphrena globosa) and decoct with water and drink.
