Chrysanthemum indicum is the whole plant of the fern plant Chrysanthemum indicum. It is harvested in autumn and can be used dried or fresh. Chrysanthemum indicum has a rich medicinal value. It has the functions of clearing heat and detoxification, promoting diuresis and relieving stranguria. It can be used for colds and fever, lung heat cough, snake bites, etc.
Image of Chrysanthemum indicum
【Morphological characteristics of Chrysanthemum indicum】
Chrysanthemum indicum is a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 20-50 centimeters. It has dense fibrous roots, light brown in color. Rhizomes are horizontal, yellow-brown, and densely covered with light brown scales.
Leaves are nearly clustered; petioles are slender and weak, with scales at the base, purple-black in color, shiny, and about the same length as the leaflets. The leaves are 1-3 pinnately compound, with 3 pinnate in the lower part.
In the middle part, there are 2 pinnate, and in the upper part, there is 1 pinnate. The leaflets are 8-13 pairs, alternate, with stalks, with the largest pair near the base, and the 2 pinnate leaflets have small stalks. The terminal pinnules are about 3-3.5 millimeters wide.
Most of them are fan-shaped, with a wedge-shaped base, with small stalks, and the upper edge often has irregular deep fissures. The lobes are obtuse, and the infertile lobes also have small teeth. The leaves are thin and membranous, pale green in color, smooth on both sides, and the veins are obvious.
The capsule cover folds down from the edge of the leaflet, usually 3-7 per leaflet, rectangular, brown, with white edges, membranous. The sporangia are round to oblong, slightly curved, sessile, and the spores are tiny and pale yellow.
Chrysanthemum indicum grows in rock crevices or beside houses and walls at altitudes of 100-2800 meters. It is distributed in East China, Central and South China, Southwest China, as well as Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, and other places.
Image of Chrysanthemum indicum
【Efficacy and function of Chrysanthemum indicum】
1. Relieving cough and resolving phlegm
Chrysanthemum indicum has the functions of relieving cough, resolving phlegm, softening firmness, and tonifying deficiency. It can treat bronchitis, asthma, lung heat cough, hemoptysis, pneumonia, and other conditions.
2. Detoxification and anti-inflammatory
Pharmacological studies have shown that plants of this genus have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. They are clinically used to treat snake bites, upper respiratory tract infections, mastitis, women's bleeding, postpartum blood stasis, and other conditions.
3. Diuresis and relieving stranguria
Chrysanthemum indicum enters the small intestine and bladder meridians, can promote diuresis, relieve stranguria, and reduce swelling. It can be used clinically to treat urinary tract infections, lymph node tuberculosis, dysentery, and abdominal pain.
4. Treating hypertension
Chrysanthemum indicum contains a large amount of flavonoids, which are used in clinical practice for adjuvant treatment of hypertension. It has the effects of preventing cerebral hemorrhage, preventing cardiovascular organ diseases, and anti-mutation.
Image of Chrysanthemum indicum
【Clinical applications of Chrysanthemum indicum】
1. Treatment of lung heat coughing up blood: 30g each of Dibu twig and Chrysanthemum indicum. Decoction with water and add white sugar to taste.
2. Treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis coughing up blood and edema: 9g each of Yanbai twig, Dibu twig, and Cebai, and 30g of Sheer root. Decoction and drink.
3. Treatment of internal bleeding due to toxin: equal amounts of Dibu twig and Astragalus root, ground into powder. Mix with rice and drink 2 qian (about 6 grams).
4. Treatment of severe injuries from falls: 15g each of Yanbai twig, Fengwei root, Chrysanthemum indicum root, and Kidney fern, and 3g of Baoshilian. Decoction with water, use alcohol as a guide.
5. Treatment of asthma: 45g of Shiba, 30g of Chrysanthemum indicum root, 60g each of pig liver and honey. Decoction and eat the liver.
6. Treatment of dizziness and blurred vision: Add 30g of Yanbai leaf to every 500g of tea leaves, soak in tea and drink regularly.
