The herb used for treating bruises and sprains is the stem, leaves, or roots of the plant Zingiberaceae. It is mainly found in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places in China. The herb has strong regenerative power and tough texture, and is often used as fuel material. It is commonly used by the people to treat bruises, chest pain, rheumatism, and menstrual pain in women!
The Zingiberaceae is a shrub or small tree, reaching a height of 2-5m. The small branches are densely covered with long, yellow, hard hairs, which soon fall off. The leaves are leathery, with 4-5 leaves in a whorl. They are lanceolate or inversely lanceolate-elliptic in shape, 10-22cm long and 2-6cm wide;
The apex is acute, the base is blunt or nearly circular, with no hairs on the upper surface, only the midvein is covered with short soft hairs at first, and the lower surface is pale gray or yellowish-brown, covered with yellow soft hairs; the petiole is 2-6mm long, densely covered with long soft hairs.
The umbel inflorescence consists of 2-10 flowers densely clustered at the upper part of the small branches; the peduncle is 1-2cm long, covered with yellowish-brown soft hairs; the bracts are 4-7, covered with gray-brown silk hairs, with 7-8 flowers in each bract; the sepals are lanceolate in shape;
There are 9 stamens, with long filaments and long soft hairs. The fruit of the Zingiberaceae is ovate, about 1cm long, with a pointed tip. The flowering period is from April to November, and the fruiting period is from November to January of the following year.
The herb has the functions of dispelling wind and activating collaterals, promoting blood circulation and reducing swelling, and relieving pain. It is mainly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, lower back and leg pain, limb paralysis, menstrual pain, bruises, and swelling and pain caused by injuries.
