Serissa serissoides (DC.) Druce, also known as Bai Ma Gu or Liuyue Xue, is a plant of the Rubiaceae family. It is mentioned in the book "Ben Cao Shi Yi". The whole plant, including the stems, leaves, and flowers, is harvested from 1 to 2 years after planting, usually between April and June (can be harvested continuously for 4 to 5 years), and the roots are dug up in autumn. The harvested plant material is washed, cut into sections, and can be used fresh or dried.
[Processing method] Take the original plant material, remove impurities, wash thoroughly, moisten, cut into sections, and dry. Remove any ash residue by sieving.
[Appearance of medicinal slices] Bai Ma Gu appears as a mixture of root, stem, leaf, and flower segments. The root is cylindrical, with a dark gray, grayish-white, or yellowish-brown surface, and longitudinal cracks. The cork layer is easily peeled off. The cross-section is fibrous, woody, and hard. The leaves are opposite or clustered, leathery, yellow-green in color, and curled. Sometimes, yellow-white flowers can be seen at the tips of the branches. Occasionally, near-spherical drupes can be found. It has a faint aroma and a mild taste. The leaves of Liuyue Xue are narrowly elliptical. The calyx lobes are only half the length of the corolla tube.
[Processing effects] Bai Ma Gu has a mild, bitter, slightly pungent taste, and a cooling nature. It has the functions of dispelling wind, promoting diuresis, clearing heat, and detoxifying. It is used for treating colds, jaundice-type hepatitis, nephritis edema, cough, sore throat, keratitis, enteritis, dysentery, lumbar and leg pain, coughing up blood, hematuria, amenorrhea in women, leukorrhea, infantile malnutrition, convulsions, toothache due to wind-fire, carbuncles, and swelling. Liuyue Xue, when decocted in water, can be used to treat colds and flu (Hunan Materia Medica) and, when used with Xiaojinqiancao, can treat damp-heat jaundice (Jiangxi Folk Herbal Medicine). Cleaning and cutting the plant material is beneficial for purification and formulation of the medicinal material.
