The dried bark of the mimosa tree, a member of the legume family, is called He Huan Pi. It is mostly harvested during the summer and autumn seasons and dried in the sun. It has a sweet and neutral taste, with the functions of relieving depression, harmonizing blood, calming the mind, and reducing swelling. It is effective in treating restlessness, depression, insomnia, lung abscess, swelling, scrofula, and bone fractures.
Functions and Indications of He Huan Pi
It relieves depression, harmonizes blood, calms the mind, and reduces swelling. It is used to treat restlessness, depression, insomnia, lung abscess, swelling, scrofula, and bone fractures.
① "Compendium of Materia Medica": "It governs the five viscera, harmonizes the heart and mind, and brings joy and worry-free feelings."
② "Compendium of Materia Medica": "It kills insects."
③ "Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao": "It can be decocted into a paste to reduce swelling and continue the healing of tendons and bones."
④ "Outline of Materia Medica": "It harmonizes blood, reduces swelling, and relieves pain."
⑤ "Classification of Medicinal Herbs": "It treats scrofula."
⑥ "Folk Medicinal Herbs for Animals and Plants": "It treats cough."
⑦ "Common Handbook of Chinese Medicinal Herbs": "It treats restlessness, irritability, insomnia, and muscle spasms."
Usage and Dosage of He Huan Pi
Internally: Decoction, 1.5-3 qian (4.5-9 grams); or in powder form. Externally: Crushed and applied.
Selected Prescriptions Using He Huan Pi
① Treatment for cough with mild fever, irritability, fullness in the chest and hypochondrium. Take a piece of He Huan Pi the size of a palm in the evening. Finely chop it and cook it with three liters of water until it reduces to one liter. Divide it into three doses. ("Qian Jin Fang" - Huang Hun Tang)
② Treatment for long-lasting non-healing lung abscess: He Huan Pi and Bai Lian. Decoct together and take orally. ("Jing Yue Quan Shu" - He Huan Yin)
③ Treatment for bruises and bone fractures: Four liang of He Huan Pi (fried and ground into powder), one qian each of She Xiang and Ru Xiang. Take three da qian (9 grams) per dose, mix with warm wine, and take it when neither hungry nor full. ("Xu Ben Shi Fang")
④ Treatment for bone fractures: Four liang of He Huan Pi (remove the coarse skin, take the white bark, crush it into small pieces, and fry it until it turns slightly dark). One liang of Jie Cai Zi (fried). Grind them into fine powder, mix with wine, and take it before bedtime. Apply the coarse residue on the wound and bandage it. This prescription is specifically for bone injuries. ("Bai Yi Xuan Fang")
⑤ Treatment for spider bites: Grind He Huan Pi into powder, mix it with ink, and combine it with fresh oil for topical application. ("Compendium of Materia Medica")
Clinical Applications of He Huan Pi
The dosage is 6-12 grams. It can also be applied externally as needed, crushed into powder. It is used to treat restlessness, depression, insomnia, lung abscess, swelling, and injuries. In modern times, it is commonly used for treating restlessness, depression, and insomnia.
Precautions for Using He Huan Pi
1. Patients with gastritis should be cautious when taking He Huan Pi. It should be avoided by those who have wind-heat with spontaneous sweating or those suffering from external pathogenic factors causing insomnia.
2. He Huan Pi is often used for insomnia caused by dissatisfaction with emotions and mental restlessness. It is often used clinically in combination with Bai Zi Ren, Xin Shen, and Suan Zao Ren to enhance the nourishing of the heart and mind, and to calm the mind and stabilize the spirit.
3. For injuries with bone fractures and swelling, He Huan Pi can be combined with Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, and other blood-activating herbs. He Huan Pi can also be used in combination with She Xiang and Ru Xiang.
