Trachelospermum jasminoides, also known as Chinese star jasmine or confederate jasmine, is a plant of the Apocynaceae family. It is a woody vine with dry, leafy stems. After 3 to 4 years of cultivation, the stems are harvested in winter and cut into 25 to 30 cm long pieces, which are then tied into small bundles and dried.
【Processing Method】1. "Le Gong's Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "Remove the hairs: dry in the sun and rub off the hairs." Currently, the raw material is taken, impurities are removed, washed, slightly moistened, cut into sections, and dried.
2. "The Treatise on Pao Zhi" states: "After collecting, use coarse cloth to rub off the hairs on the leaves and stems. Soak in cooked licorice water for one interval of time, then cut and dry for use."
【Appearance】It is an irregular piece with cylindrical stem segments that are slightly bent. The surface is brownish-brown with fine longitudinal lines and enlarged stem nodes. It is hard in texture, with a pale yellowish-white cross-sectional surface, and hollow in the middle. The leaves are curled and broken, and intact leaves are elliptical or lanceolate with a blunt round tip. The upper surface is dark green or brownish green, while the lower surface is lighter in color and leathery. It has a slight odor and a slightly bitter taste.
【Processing Effects】Trachelospermum jasminoides is bitter in taste and slightly cold in nature. It belongs to the heart, liver, and kidney meridians. It has the functions of promoting blood circulation, alleviating pain, cooling the blood, clearing heat, detoxifying, and reducing swelling. It is used for rheumatism, joint and muscle spasms, lumbar and knee pain, throat obstruction, abscesses, and injuries. For example, it is used in the prescription Bo Jin San for treating cloudy urine (as mentioned in "Compendium of Materia Medica" citing "Ren Cun Tang Fang"); Trachelospermum jasminoides decoction is used to treat sciatica (as mentioned in "Selected Compilation of Guangxi Materia Medica"). Cleaning and cutting it makes it clean and easy to use in decoctions. Using licorice juice in processing can enhance the effects of relieving pain and urgency.
【Processing Research】The processing of Trachelospermum jasminoides was first recorded in "Lei Gong's Compendium of Materia Medica" and involved using licorice juice. In the Ming Dynasty, a method of removing hairs for use emerged, and in the Qing Dynasty, the method of using licorice juice was also used. Currently, it is washed, cut into sections, and used in its raw or fresh form.
