Purple Swallowwort, also known as "Da Jiang Jun" or "Red Snow Willow," is the root of the plant Dali Mountain Aster, a member of the Campanulaceae family. It is mainly found in Yunnan Province, China, and is known for its hemostatic, bone-setting, and antimalarial effects. It is commonly used to treat wounds, fractures, and malaria.
I. Morphology of Purple Swallowwort
Dali Mountain Aster is a perennial herb that grows to a height of 50-80 (-120) cm. It has a short rhizome with well-developed fibrous roots. The stem is cylindrical, erect, unbranched or sparsely branched, and often has a purple color. The leaves are papery; the basal leaves have petioles with narrow wings; the stem leaves are inverted ovate to inverted lanceolate or elliptic, with short or no petioles, measuring 3.5-7cm in length and 1.5-2 (-3) cm in width. The apex is blunt or obtuse, the base is wedge-shaped, the margin has small glandular teeth, and both sides are hairless. The veins are pinnate, concave on the upper surface, and convex on the lower surface. The inflorescence is terminal, with sparse flowers that lean to one side of the inflorescence axis. The bracts are similar to the leaves and sessile. The pedicel is flattened and measures 4-7mm in length, with short soft hairs. There are two bracteoles in the leaf axils. The calyx tube is elongated, measuring 3-4mm in length, covered with short soft hairs. The lobes are lanceolate, measuring 9-12cm in length and about 1mm in width. The corolla is pale blue or pink, measuring 24-30mm in length. The upper lip lobes are lanceolate and slightly ascending, while the lower lip lobes are lanceolate and spreading. The stamens are fused into a tube except at the base. The filament tube measures about 11mm in length and is hairless. The anther tube measures about 6mm in length, with soft hairs at the dorsal apex. The capsule is elongated, measuring about 6mm in length and 4mm in width. The seeds are nearly round in cross-section and resemble a wedge shape. The flowers and fruits appear from August to October.
II. Habitat of Purple Swallowwort
It grows on slopes at altitudes of 1600-2600m, as well as in sunny fields and beaches. It is distributed in Yunnan Province and other areas.
III. Effects and Functions of Purple Swallowwort
Taste and properties: Spicy, slightly bitter, cool, and slightly toxic.
Main functions and indications: Hemostasis, bone-setting, and antimalarial effects. It is used to treat wounds, fractures, and malaria.
1. "Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine": "Hemostasis, bone-setting. Used for treating wounds and fractures."
2. "National Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicine": "Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, detoxifying. Used for treating malaria."
