Tangjie, a Chinese medicine, refers to the whole herb and seeds of the cruciferous plant Tangjie. It is also known as Tangjie, Dashui Shuihua, Jinzhanzhanhua, Kutili, and Yecai Zi. Tangjie has the functions of invigorating the spleen and stomach, diuresis and strengthening the heart.
Image of Tangjie
【Methods of using Tangjie to treat injured appetite】
To treat water stopping due to injured appetite: Take 3 qian (about 9 grams) of Guizhu Tangjie and decoct with water for oral administration. (Information extracted from "Inner Mongolia Chinese Herbal Medicine").
Tangjie's properties: sour and bitter in taste, neutral in nature, and slightly toxic.
Main functions and indications: strengthening the heart and diuresis, invigorating the spleen and stomach, promoting digestion. It is used to treat palpitations, edema, and indigestion.
【Botanical morphology of Guizhu Tangjie】
Guizhu Tangjie is an annual herbaceous plant, 15-50cm tall.
The stem is unbranched or branched, with edges and corners, and with bifurcate hairs.
The basal leaves are rosulate, sessile, flat on the ground, with leaf blade 1-4cm long and 1-4mm wide, and with bifurcate hairs; stem leaves are lanceolate or linear, 2-6cm long and 3-9mm wide, with acute apex and wedge-shaped base, with deep wavy serrations or nearly entire margins, and with trichomes on both sides.
The inflorescence is racemose, terminal, and the fruiting period can reach 17cm in length.
The calyx has 4 round or linear lobes, with trichomes on the lower side; the petals are pale yellow, oblong, 4-5mm long, with rounded or truncate apex and claw-like base; there is 1 stamen, and the ovary has numerous ovules, the style is about 1mm long, with capitate stigma and slightly 2-lobed.
The silicle is cylindrical, 2-4cm long, laterally compressed, slightly angular, with trichomes, and the fruit valve has an indistinct central vein. Each locule contains 1 row of seeds, which are ovate and light brown. The flowering period is in May, and the fruiting period is in June.
