Dieda Lao is probably not well-known to many people, let alone understanding its medicinal value. However, it is important to have some knowledge about traditional Chinese medicine. Let's learn about Dieda Lao together.
Dieda Lao is found in valleys, along rivers, and in shrubs or mixed forests. It is distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and other regions. It is harvested in spring and summer, and can be used fresh or dried after washing.
The medicinal part of Dieda Lao is the stems, leaves, or roots of the Lauraceae plant, Litsea cubeba. It has the effects of dispelling wind, promoting blood circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. It is mainly used for treating rheumatoid arthritis, lower back and leg pain, limb paralysis, dysmenorrhea, and bruises.
The original plant of Dieda Lao is Litsea cubeba, a shrub or small tree that grows 2-5 meters tall. Its small branches are densely covered with long, hard yellow hairs, which soon fall off. The leaves are leathery, arranged in 4-5 whorls, lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, 10-22cm long and 2-6cm wide.
The apex is slightly pointed, the base is blunt or nearly round, the upper surface is hairless, and only the midrib is initially covered with short, soft hairs. The lower surface is pale gray or yellowish-brown, covered with yellow, soft hairs. The petiole is 2-6mm long and densely covered with long, soft hairs.
The umbel inflorescence consists of 2-10 flowers, densely clustered in the upper part of the small branches. The peduncle is 1-2cm long and covered with yellowish-brown, soft hairs. There are 4-7 bracts, covered with gray-brown silky hairs, and each bract contains 7-8 flowers. The sepals are lanceolate.
There are 9 stamens, with long filaments that protrude and are covered with long, soft hairs. The fruit of Litsea cubeba is oval, about 1cm long, with a pointed tip. It blooms from April to November and fruits from November to January of the following year.
