When it comes to jasmine, people first think of the beautiful jasmine flower. However, little do they know that jasmine roots have high medicinal value. Many traditional Chinese medicine practitioners use jasmine roots as an anesthetic. But is it toxic? Let's hear what the old Chinese medicine practitioners have to say.
【The Legend of Jasmine Roots】
Jasmine flowers are not the only part of the plant that can be used medicinally. The leaves and roots are also used in traditional Chinese medicine. There is a true story about jasmine roots.
Ji Xiaolan, a literary scholar and the Minister of Rites during the Qing Dynasty, recorded a strange case in his book "Yue Wei Cao Tang Bi Ji". In Fujian, there was a young girl from a farming family who was deeply in love with a young man from the neighborhood. However, her parents chose a different husband for her against her will. She refused to follow their decision and came up with a plan with the young man. They used a 6-inch-long jasmine root to grind into juice with alcohol. The girl drank it and fell into a coma for several days, appearing dead.
Her parents thought she had passed away and prepared to bury her. However, the young man secretly dug up the grave and saved her. They eloped and fled to a distant place.
According to medical records, "If one drinks a one-inch-long jasmine root juice mixed with alcohol, they will be unconscious for a day and wake up. Two inches will result in two days of unconsciousness, and three inches will result in three days. This can be used for bone fractures and dislocations."
【Advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine Anesthesia】
Traditional Chinese medicine anesthesia uses the anesthetic effects of traditional Chinese medicine to eliminate patient's sensations and achieve the goal of relieving or eliminating general or local pain. Traditional Chinese medicine anesthesia is suitable for the treatment of pain in clinical diseases and for anesthesia and pain relief during surgery. Traditional Chinese medicine anesthesia has the advantages of effectiveness, wide applicability, relative safety, convenience in carrying, and easy preservation.
Pharmacological studies have proven that jasmine flowers contain various active ingredients such as benzyl alcohol, jasmine saponin, and benzoin. Clinically, jasmine flowers can be used as an adjuvant treatment for dysentery and ulcerative lesions by soaking 2-3 grams of dried jasmine flowers in boiling water. A decoction of 3 grams of jasmine flowers and 6 grams of Xanthium sibiricum can be used to treat colds and fever. If one experiences red, swollen, and painful eyes with tearing in the wind, fumigating and washing with jasmine flower infusion can be effective. Jasmine flower infusion mixed with vegetable oil can be used to treat otitis media. Additionally, jasmine flower distillate obtained by distillation has the functions of invigorating the spleen, regulating qi, and resolving stale and foul qi.
【Poisoning and Rescue of Jasmine Roots】
1. Symptoms of poisoning
Excessive intake can result in unconsciousness.
2. Rescue methods
Gastric lavage, intravenous infusion of fluids and diuretics. Maintain clear airways. Use respiratory stimulants appropriately.
It can be seen that jasmine roots have a certain anesthetic effect. For example, grinding an appropriate amount of jasmine roots and frying them with alcohol can be used to treat muscle and bone injuries. Mixing 1 gram of jasmine root powder with 3 grams of Chuanxiong rhizome and drinking it with yellow wine can relieve intense pain caused by fractures or injuries. However, jasmine roots have a certain level of toxicity, so caution should be exercised when taking them, and knowledge of emergency treatment for poisoning should be known.
