Chuan Po Shi, Chinese medicine name, is the root of the mulberry family plant Gou Ji or Zhe Shu. Chuan Po Shi has a mild taste, slightly bitter, and a cool nature. It has the effects of dispelling wind and promoting blood circulation, clearing heat and removing dampness, and detoxifying and reducing swelling. It is mainly used to treat rheumatism, injuries from falls, jaundice, parotitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, urinary tract infections, gu syndrome, amenorrhea, coughing up blood from overexertion, and treating sores and abscesses.
[Usage and Dosage]
Orally: Decoction, 9-30g of Chuan Po Shi, up to 120g for fresh ones; or soak in alcohol.
Externally: Apply an appropriate amount of Chuan Po Shi and apply it as a poultice.
[Contraindications]
"Nanning Pharmaceutical Compendium": Avoid use during pregnancy.
[Applications of Chuan Po Shi in Prescriptions]
① For treating pulmonary tuberculosis and rheumatism: Chuan Po Shi, Tie Bao Jin, Licorice. Decoct together and take orally. ("Guangdong Chinese Medicine")
② For treating weakness and leukorrhea: Zhe Shu root, 1 liang. Decoct with water and take orally. ("Folk Medicinal Herbs of Zhejiang Province")
③ For treating bruises: Wei Zhi root and glutinous rice, grind and apply as a poultice. ("List of Chinese Medicinal Resources in Zhejiang Province")
④ For treating long-term hearing loss and tinnitus, or when there is discharge, both caused by kidney deficiency. Take 30 jin of iron (burn it red, soak it in 5 dou of water for 3 days, remove the residue, and clarify the liquid), 7 jin of Acorus calamus (cut it and boil it in 1 stone of water until 5 dou remain, remove the residue, and clarify the liquid), and 30 jin of Chuan Po Shi (boil it in 1 stone of water until 5 dou remain, remove the residue, and clarify the liquid).
Combine the above medicines, make 1 stone and 5 dou, use 2 stones of rice, add 3 dou of yeast, ferment it according to the usual method, and open it when the wine is mature. Take 3 jin of magnet, grind it into powder, put it in the wine, and soak it for 3 days. Drink it day and night, and get drunk as a measure. Stop drinking when you can hear people talking. ("Sheng Hui Fang" Fermented Iron Wine)
⑤ For treating hotness in children, heavy tongue, and goose mouth: Zhe root (filed), 5 sheng. Boil with 5 sheng of water until 2 sheng remain, remove the residue, and boil again to obtain 5 he. Apply it finely and repeatedly. ("Qian Jin Fang")
[Botanical Morphology of Chuan Po Shi]
1. Gou Ji
Upright or climbing; the root bark is orange-yellow; the branches are gray-brown, smooth, with scattered lenticels, and with erect or slightly curved thorns, stout and 5-10 (-20) mm long.
Leaves are opposite; petiole is 5-10 mm long; leaf blade is leathery, oblong-ovate, elliptic or elongated elliptic, 3-9 cm long, 1-2.8 cm wide, blunt or gradually pointed at the apex, or slightly notched, wedge-shaped at the base, entire margin, and hairless on both sides.
The inflorescence is a fruiting head, fleshy, orange-red when ripe, with a diameter of 3-5 cm, and covered with hairs; the achene is wrapped in the fleshy perianth and bracts. Flowering period is from April to May, and fruiting period is from September to October.
2. Zhe Shu
Deciduous shrub or small tree, up to 8m tall. The twigs are dark green-brown, with hard thorns, and the thorns are 5-35mm long.
Leaves are opposite; petiole is 0.5-2cm long; stipules are axillary, separated; leaf blade is nearly leathery, ovate or oblong-ovate, 5-13 cm long, blunt or gradually pointed at the apex.
The inflorescence is a fruiting head, fleshy, with a diameter of about 2.5 cm, orange-red or orange-yellow, and the surface is slightly wrinkled. The achene is wrapped in the fleshy perianth. Flowering period is from May to June, and fruiting period is from September to October.
