Mengmenghua, also known as Xiaojinhua, Menghua, and Ranfanhua. Recorded in "Kaibao Materia Medica". It is the dried flower bud and inflorescence of the plant Buddleja officinalis Maxim. of the family Scrophulariaceae. It is harvested when the flowers are not yet open in spring, and impurities are removed before drying.
[Processing method] 1. Mengmenghua "Leigong Paozhi Lun": "First select and clean." "Zhengzhi Zhunsheng": "Remove branches." At present, the original medicinal material is taken, impurities are removed, and ashes are sifted.
2. Honey processed Mengmenghua "Leigong Paozhi Lun": "First select and clean, soak in wine overnight, filter and dry, mix with honey to moisten, steam, and remove from Mao to You, dry in the sun. Repeat this process three times, and then dry. For every one or two times, soak in eight taels of wine, wait for the color to change, steam with half a liang of honey as a unit." "Bencao Mengquan": "Soak the flowers in wine overnight, mix with honey, and sun-dry again." "Bencao Tongxuan": "Mix with wine and honey and stir-fry lightly." At present, refined honey is placed in a pot with a suitable amount of water, heated to boiling, poured into clean Mengmenghua, constantly stirred and mixed, fried until yellow, not sticky, taken out and dried. For every 100 kg of Mengmenghua, use 25 kg of honey.
[Characteristics of the medicinal slices] Mengmenghua is an irregular conical inflorescence with densely packed small branches, measuring 1.5 to 3 cm in length. The surface is grayish-yellow or brownish-yellow, covered with dense hairs. The flower buds are short and rod-shaped, with a slightly larger upper end; the calyx is bell-shaped; the corolla is tubular, about the same length as the calyx or slightly longer, with a 4-lobed apex, and the lobes are ovate in shape. The texture is soft and fragile. It has a faint fragrance and a slightly bitter and pungent taste. Honey processed Mengmenghua is similar in appearance to Mengmenghua, with a deep yellow color, a honey aroma, and a sweet taste.
[Quality requirements] Mengmenghua should contain not less than 0.50% of Mengmenghua glycoside (C28H32O14).
[Processing functions] Mengmenghua has a sweet and slightly cold nature. It belongs to the liver meridian. It has the functions of clearing heat, nourishing the liver, improving vision, and reducing opacity. It is commonly used in clinical practice for redness, swelling, and pain in the eyes, excessive tearing, formation of opacity in the eyes, liver deficiency with dim vision, and blurred vision. It is also used to treat wind and dampness attacking the eyes, causing dimness, excessive tearing, hidden discomfort, itching, gradual formation of opacity, unclear vision, and long-term migraine with pain in both eyes. After processing, the medicine becomes clean. Eye diseases are often caused by blood stagnation. Soaking in wine helps to promote blood circulation, and honey processing helps to balance the cold nature, so as to avoid stomach damage.
