The bark of Di Feng Pi is recorded in "Selected Compilation of Guangxi Materia Medica". It is the bark of Illicium difengpi B.N Chang et al, a plant belonging to the family Magnoliaceae. It is harvested in spring and autumn. Bark from plants older than 10 years is selected. The bark is sawed from one side of the tree, and a straight cut is made with a knife to peel off the bark. The remaining bark is left intact and dried in a ventilated area.
【Processing Method】The raw medicinal material is taken, impurities and residual wood core are removed, washed and dried, and then crushed.
【Appearance of the medicinal slices】It is irregular pieces, with a gray-brown to dark brown outer surface; the inner surface is brown or reddish-brown with obvious longitudinal wrinkles. The texture is loose and brittle, easy to break, with a granular fracture surface. It has a fragrant smell and a slightly astringent taste. No mucilage is released after soaking in water.
【Processing function】Di Feng Pi has a pungent and astringent taste, and is warm in nature with a slight toxicity. It enters the bladder and kidney meridians. It has the functions of dispelling wind and dampness, and promoting qi circulation and relieving pain. It is used for rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar muscle strain, and centipede bites. For example, it is used in the formulation of Fenghan Double-Li Gua Pian for treating wind-cold pain in the lower back and legs, numbness in the limbs, and spasm of tendons and bones (from "Drug Standards: Chinese Medicine Formulations"). Processing the herb makes it clean and facilitates the dissolution of active ingredients, making it easier to mix and formulate.
