Wuzhuafeng, a highly valuable traditional Chinese medicine, has the effect of promoting blood circulation and dispersing blood stasis. It is mainly used to treat chronic hepatitis, ascites caused by liver cirrhosis, and other conditions. Let's learn more about the benefits and usage of Wuzhuafeng!
【Morphological Characteristics of Wuzhuafeng】
Wuzhuafeng is a climbing shrub, about 1.5 meters tall, with cylindrical branches. The color ranges from gray-brown to purple-brown, and it has soft hairs when young, which fall off as it ages. It bears sparse thorns.
The leaves are usually palmate with 5 leaflets, elliptical or diamond-shaped, measuring 3-7 cm in length and 1-2.4 cm in width. The apex gradually tapers to a point, the base is wedge-shaped, and both sides have soft hairs along the veins, with coarse and sharp serrations and heavy serrations along the edges;
The petioles are 2-4 cm long and have soft hairs, while the leaflets are either sessile or nearly sessile. The stipules are linear-lanceolate, attached to the base of the petioles, only slightly connected or nearly separated from the petioles, and usually undivided;
The flowers are usually solitary and borne on lateral branches. The pedicels are 2-3.5 cm long and hairless. The bracts resemble stipules. The flowers have a diameter of 1.5-2 cm;
The fruits of Wuzhuafeng are hemispherical, hidden in the calyx, with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm. They are red and covered with long soft hairs at the base of the persistent styles. The stones can reach up to 4 mm in length and have wrinkles. The flowering period is from April to May, and the fruiting period is from May to June.
【Methods of Using Wuzhuafeng】
1. Treatment of intestinal obstruction
Take 4 liang of fresh Wuzhuafeng, crush and squeeze out the juice, mix it with an equal amount of children's stool, heat it slightly, and slowly drink it.
In winter, use dried Wuzhuafeng, 2 liang per dose, make a decoction, mix it with an equal amount of children's stool, and it will be equally effective. If there is severe vomiting and the medicine is vomited out, the dosage should be replenished. Take small doses multiple times, and usually there will be no vomiting after the second dose. Several clinical trials have shown that the effect can be seen within 24 hours.
2. Treatment of tetanus
30 grams of Yuzhucao (also known as Shaozicao), 20 grams of Wuzhuafeng (also known as Shehancao), 20 grams of Cheqiancao, and 10 grams of centipedes.
Take one dose daily, decoct in water and drink frequently.
【Methods of Cultivating Wuzhuafeng】
Wuzhuafeng can be cultivated in both spring and autumn. The best time for spring cultivation is early April, and for autumn cultivation, it is best to do it before the branches stop growing, which is before the first frost.
Care mainly involves loosening the soil and weeding. In spring, loosen the soil between the rows and weed within the rows. In summer, depending on the degree of soil compaction and weed growth, the soil should be prepared. Generally, it is necessary to loosen the soil between the rows 2-3 times before harvesting.
After harvesting the fruits, loosen the soil once and perform two inter-row cultivations, because the soil in the rows becomes heavily compacted and weeds grow profusely during the harvesting process.
The Wuzhuafeng berries should be picked at the right time, neither too early nor too late. Generally, they should be harvested one to two days after ripening. The berries should be picked with the calyx and part of the pedicel.
The harvested berries are best stored in a refrigerator at a temperature close to 0°C and a relative humidity of around 90%. Under such temperature and humidity conditions, they can be stored for about a week. Cold storage facilities can be used for long-term preservation of the berries.
