The leaves of the holly family plant Ilex cornuta, commonly known as "luoshuanghong" in Chinese, are mainly distributed in Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, and other regions in China. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, cooling blood and stopping bleeding. It is often used for scalds, tooth decay, ulcerations, and external bleeding. Let's take a closer look at the benefits and effects of luoshuanghong.
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【Morphological Characteristics of Luoshuanghong】
Ilex cornuta, also known as small-leaved holly or fine hair holly, is a deciduous shrub that grows 1-2m tall. The bark is gray, and the small branches have either coarse hairs or no hairs, with visible lenticels.
The leaves are opposite; leaf stalks are 6-8mm long; leaf blades are membranous, elliptical, rarely ovoid or inverted ovate, 2-9cm long and 1-4cm wide;
The apex is gradually pointed, the base is wedge-shaped, the edges have pointed serrations, the midrib is concave above and convex below, the reticulate veins are obvious, and both sides are sparsely covered with coarse hairs.
The umbel inflorescence is solitary in the leaf axils; there are 4-5 male flowers, with flower stalks 2.5mm long, calyx diameter 1.5-2mm, calyx lobes triangular, with soft hairs on the outside, corolla diameter 4.5-5mm;
The petals are elongated, slightly fused at the base, and the stamens are slightly shorter than the corolla; there are 4-5 female flowers, with flower stalks 2-3mm long, calyx resembling male flowers, corolla diameter of 4.5mm, ovate petals, and disc-shaped stigma.
The fruit is spherical, about 5mm in diameter, red in color, with 4-5 rarely 1 ovoid or elliptical seeds, smooth on the dorsal side, and the inner pericarp is leathery. It flowers from August to September and fruits in October.
Image of luoshuanghong
【Benefits and Effects of Luoshuanghong】
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that luoshuanghong has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, cooling blood and stopping bleeding. It is used to treat scalds, tooth decay, ulcerations, and external bleeding.
1. "Jiangxi Herbal Medicine": "Cooling blood, stopping bleeding, detoxification. Used for scalds, tooth decay, external bleeding."
2. "Fujian Herbal Medicine": Clears heat and detoxifies. Used for ulcerations.
3. Treatment of lung abscess: Take 1-2 taels of luoshuanghong roots, decoct in water and drink.
4. Treatment of scalds: Grind the fresh roots of luoshuanghong into a paste and apply it.
5. Treatment of ulcerations: Take 1-2 taels of fresh luoshuanghong roots, decoct in water and drink; separately, grind the fresh leaves into a paste and apply it externally.
Image of luoshuanghong
【Cultivation of Luoshuanghong】
1. Soil
Luoshuanghong prefers fertile soil, but it can also grow well in ordinary soil with loose texture and good permeability. It is suitable for fertile, loose soil rich in humus and with good water drainage and air permeability. Both slightly acidic and neutral soils are suitable. For potted plants, it is best to mix leaf mold or pond mud with 20% sand after weathering to promote root growth and development.
2. Light
Luoshuanghong prefers semi-shaded and moist areas, so it is necessary to use shade nets to block strong sunlight during midday to avoid high temperatures that may affect the growth of luoshuanghong.
After 4 p.m., when the light is weaker, the shade nets should be closed. However, it is important to ensure that the shade net provides a shady environment for the plants, similar to a shade house, to provide a comfortable condition for them.
3. Fertilization
Luoshuanghong does not require a lot of fertilizer. Just apply foliar fertilizer appropriately. Water-soluble flower fertilizer can be used, with a ratio of 5 grams per 2 kilograms of water.
After preparing the solution, spray it onto the leaves. The best time to do this is between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and the amount of water should be enough to completely spray the leaves. Apply it every half month.
