The Chinese medicine "Velvet Vine" is the white latex and root of the stem of the plant Velvet Vine in the family Menispermaceae. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting digestion and diuresis, and reducing swelling. What are the methods of using Velvet Vine to treat stomach pain?
Velvet Vine root: used to treat rheumatic pain, back pain, stomach pain, and pediatric food stagnation. Latex: used externally to treat warts.
In Mongolian medicine, Velvet Vine is used to treat "Xie Ri" diseases, heat diarrhea, and intestinal colic.
The main root of Velvet Vine is cylindrical, about 20cm long and about 5mm in diameter, and turns grayish-yellow when dried. The leaves are opposite, thin and papery; leaf stalks are 2.5-5cm long; leaf blades are broadly triangular heart-shaped, 4-9cm long and 4-7cm wide, with a sharp tip and a heart-shaped base. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green, and the lower surface is pale. Both sides are covered with short soft hairs, and the veins are dense.
The inflorescence of Velvet Vine is umbel-like and axillary, dichotomous, with about 20 flowers; the calyx is covered with soft hairs; the corolla has 5 white lobes, elongated lanceolate; the corolla tube is cup-shaped, divided into 10 filamentous bodies at the upper end, forming 2 whorls; the outer whorl is about the same length as the corolla lobes, and the inner whorl is slightly shorter; each locule has a pendant style with a 2-lobed stigma.
The fruit of Velvet Vine is paired or only one develops, slender cylindrical, gradually pointed towards the apex, up to 11cm long and about 5mm in diameter. The seeds are elongated with white silky hairs at the apex. Flowering period is from June to August, and fruiting period is from August to October.
Velvet Vine is mainly used to invigorate blood and resolve toxins. It is used to treat common warts. For common warts, fresh Velvet Vine latex is applied to the affected area. After several applications, the warts will gradually fall off on their own.
Regardless of any plant with medicinal value, attention should be paid to the dosage and medicinal value. If the medication is excessive, it may have adverse effects on the body and even worsen the condition. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a doctor before use.
