Leaf Elephant Flower is the whole plant of the Euphorbiaceae plant Caper Euphorbia. It is an annual herb with the effects of cooling blood and regulating menstruation, dispelling stasis and reducing swelling. It is primarily used for the treatment of excessive menstruation, external injuries with swelling and pain, bleeding, fractures, and other conditions. It belongs to the category of warm meridian and hemostatic drugs. The flowers and latex of the Leaf Elephant Flower are toxic and can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and delirium when ingested.
【Plant Morphology】
The Leaf Elephant Flower is an annual herb that grows to about 1 meter in height. The stem is solitary, and the leaves are alternate. The leaves have various shapes, including ovate, elliptic, lanceolate, or linear. The leaves in the middle and lower parts are 4-10 cm long and 2.5-5 cm wide, with lobed or unlobed violin-shaped divisions. The petiole is 2-3 cm long. The leaf bases or all of the lower leaves of the inflorescences are purple-red. The cup-shaped inflorescences are densely arranged in umbellate cymes on the stems and branches. The bracts are bell-shaped, 3-4 mm wide, with 5 lobes at the apex. There are 1-2 glands, cup-shaped, without petaloid appendages. The capsule is nearly spherical, 5 mm in diameter, and hairless. The seeds are ovoid with wart-like protrusions. The flowering and fruiting period is in August.
【Properties and Channels】
It has a cold nature, with a bitter and astringent taste. It belongs to the Liver meridian.
【Chemical Composition】
The Leaf Elephant Flower contains IV-acetylaminosemi-lactose.
【Efficacy and Functions】
It cools the blood and regulates menstruation, dispels stasis, and reduces swelling. It belongs to the category of warm meridian and hemostatic drugs.
【Clinical Applications】
Internal use: Decoction with 3-9 grams of Leaf Elephant Flower. External use: Appropriate amount of fresh product for poultice. It is primarily used for the treatment of excessive menstruation, external injuries with swelling and pain, bleeding, and fractures.
【Medicinal Formula】
① For the treatment of excessive menstruation and injuries: 6-9 grams of Leaf Elephant Flower. Decoction, taken twice a day. (Wenshan Chinese Herbal Medicine)
② For the treatment of external bleeding and fractures: Appropriate amount of fresh Leaf Elephant Flower, mashed and applied to the affected area. Change the dressing once every 2-3 days. (Wenshan Chinese Herbal Medicine)
【Pharmacological Research】
It does not have a killing effect on Schistosoma, but it has a significant diuretic effect on patients with ascites caused by schistosomiasis. It has a strong laxative effect.
The hot water extract of the Leaf Elephant Flower has an inhibitory effect on Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37, while the stem and root extracts are ineffective. The flowers or plant sap contain toxic components, which can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and delirium when ingested.
