Ya Song, also known as Xiao'e'er Chang and Banbian Lian, is a medicinal herb that is harvested with its roots in spring and summer. It can be dried or used fresh for medicinal purposes. Let's take a look at its specific uses below!
Plant Characteristics of Ya Song
Ya Song is an annual herbaceous plant, growing 5-30cm tall. The entire plant is hairless. It has fibrous roots. The stems are solitary or clustered, branched or unbranched, with edges and often produce adventitious roots at the nodes.
The leaves are arranged in a whorl of 3-6, sessile or shortly petiolate. They are elongated spatulate or narrowly lanceolate, measuring 8-20mm in length and 2-7mm in width. The apex is slightly obtuse or acute, and the base gradually tapers, with entire margins.
The inflorescence is in the form of a rounded cone or umbrella, with long branches and sparse flowers. The flowers are small, measuring 3-8mm in length. The calyx consists of 5 narrow triangular to lanceolate lobes, measuring 1.5-2mm in length, with an acute apex. The petals are white, lanceolate-ovate in shape, measuring 2-3mm in length, with an acute apex and free from the base.
There are 10 stamens in two whorls, shorter than the petals. The scales are broad and spoon-shaped, with notches at the apex. The carpels are elliptical, fused at the base, with slight glandular projections on the dorsal surface. The fruit, called a cypsela, is inclined when mature in the upper half.
The seeds are ovoid, brown, smooth, and measure 0.4mm in length. The flowering period is from May to July, and the fruiting period is from August to September.
Habitat and Distribution of Ya Song
Ecological environment: Ya Song grows on slopes or cliffs in valleys.
Distribution: It is found in Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, and other regions.
Medicinal Uses of Ya Song
Main functions: Clears heat and detoxifies. It is used to treat hot toxic swelling, erysipelas, orchitis, burns, damp sores, bacterial dysentery, and amoebic dysentery.
Selected Formulas:
1. For treating erysipelas in children: Take 15g of Ya Song, 9g each of Honeysuckle, Forsythia, Isatis Leaf, Dandelion, Moutan Bark, Red Peony, and Polygonum capitatum. Boil in water and take orally. (Qinling Bashan Natural Medicinal Plant Records)
2. For treating orchitis: Take an appropriate amount of Ya Song, grind it to a paste, and apply externally. (Qinling Bashan Natural Medicinal Plant Records)
