Mugua Cortex, also known as Chuanjinpi and Jinpi, is recorded in the "Compendium of Materia Medica". It is the stem bark or root bark of the plant Hibiscus syriacus L. of the family Malvaceae. The stem bark is peeled off from April to May and dried in the sun. The root bark is dug up in late autumn, peeled off from the root, and dried.
【Processing Method】Take the original medicinal material, remove impurities, wash it, moisten it, cut it into strips, and dry it.
【Characteristics of the prepared medicinal slices】It is irregularly shaped like silk strips, with a grayish to grayish-yellow outer surface, longitudinal wrinkles, and small horizontal projections. The inner surface is yellowish-white, smooth, with fibrous texture, tough in texture, and the cut surface appears white. It has a slight aroma and a mild taste.
【Processing function】Mugua Cortex has a sweet and bitter taste, and a slightly cold nature. It belongs to the large intestine, liver, and spleen meridians. It has the functions of clearing heat, promoting diuresis, killing parasites, and stopping itching. Processing makes the medicinal material clean, facilitates the dissolution of active ingredients, and is convenient for compounding and formulation. It is used for damp-heat diarrhea, intestinal wind with bloody stools, prolapse of the anus, hemorrhoids, abnormal vaginal discharge, vaginal trichomoniasis, skin scabies, and scrotal eczema. For example, Chuanjin San is used to treat all stubborn scabies ("Lu Fu Prohibited Formula"). After soaking Mugua Cortex in 75% ethanol for 2 days, it can be applied externally to treat athlete's foot ("Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine"). It can also be used externally with alum and gallnut to treat prolapse of the anus ("Emergency Formula").
