Biluozi is the fruit of the Qingfeng vine, also known as the "crown of fruits". It is called one of the "three friends of fruits" along with cherries and plums. It can promote appetite, aid digestion, prevent cancer, and slow down aging. It has detoxifying, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory effects, and is used to treat edema, abdominal distension, unknown swelling, and snake bites.
【Morphological characteristics of Biluozi】
Biluozi is an evergreen small tree, about 10 meters tall. The trunk is straight with gray-brown bark. The young branches are stout and covered with rusty soft hairs. The leaves are alternate, leathery, lanceolate or elliptic, 8-25 centimeters long, 3-5 centimeters wide, with pointed or blunt tips, wedge-shaped bases, entire or sparsely serrated upper parts, and have hairs on the upper surface when young and rusty hairs on the lower surface. The lateral veins are distinct on the back. The petioles are 2.5-3 centimeters long and have short hairs. The cone-shaped inflorescences are terminal and covered with rusty soft hairs. The flowers are small and white, with 5 sepals, 5 petals, and 5 stamens. The drupes are nearly spherical, inclined at the base, 5-8 millimeters in diameter, and with persistent sepals. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is in August.
【Distribution of Biluozi】
Biluozi is mainly produced in southern Yunnan, Guangxi, Guizhou, southwestern Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and Taiwan. It grows in broad-leaved forests below 1500 meters above sea level. It is also distributed in Japan. It grows on slopes, riverbanks, forest edges, and shrubs. It is found in Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, and other places.
【Efficacy of Biluozi】
In traditional Chinese medicine, Biluozi is considered to have a sweet and sour taste, neutral nature, and the functions of moistening the lungs, stopping cough, relieving thirst, promoting digestion, and diuresis. It is used for pulmonary tuberculosis, cough with abundant phlegm, and chest tightness.
In addition to the fruit, Biluozi leaves and Biluozi kernels are also commonly used medicinal materials. Biluozi leaves have the functions of clearing lung and stomach heat, and transforming qi and resolving phlegm. They are used for dry cough with lung heat, stomach pain, epistaxis, and gastric heat with foul vomiting. Biluozi kernels are used for treating hernia, eliminating edema, and promoting joint health.
The "National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicine" records that Biluozi is taken orally in the amount of 1-3 qian (3-9 grams). The fresh root bark can also be mashed and applied to the affected area for detoxification, diuresis, and anti-inflammatory effects. It is used to treat edema, abdominal distension, unknown swelling, and snake bites.
The "Folk Medicine Materials of Hunan" records that Biluozi is decocted and taken orally in the amount of 6-9 grams. It has the effects of treating cough, cold, and pain relief.
