Caloglossa leprieurii, also known as beauty tongue algae, rock head algae, and worm expelling algae, is a plant in the family Caloglossaceae. It is mentioned in the "Zhangpu County Annals". During the summer and autumn seasons, it is harvested, cleaned of impurities, and dried, or used fresh.
【Processing Method】Take the original medicinal material, remove impurities, wash, and dry.
【Appearance of Herbal Pieces】It is black, flat, leaf-like, measuring 1-4cm in length. It has irregular forked branches, narrow internodes, and oval-shaped nodes that are constricted. The central part of the leaf has a distinct midrib, and secondary branches often emerge from the branching points of the midrib, sometimes producing root-like hairs. It is membranous in texture, with a pungent smell and a bitter taste.
【Processing Function】Caloglossa leprieurii has a pungent taste and a neutral nature. It has the function of expelling roundworms. When used fresh, it is used to treat roundworm diseases, such as beauty tongue algae tablets ("National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicines"). Processing can improve the cleanliness of the medicine.
