As a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Suigu Zi (Fructus Kochiae) has many effects. Let's learn about the efficacy and plant morphology of Suigu Zi together.
【Properties and Channels】 Suigu Zi has a sweet taste and cold nature.
① "Gangmu": "Sweet, cold, non-toxic."
② "Hui Xi Cao Yao": "Sweet and light, cold."
【Effects and Functions of Suigu Zi】
Suigu Zi has the effect of clearing heat and promoting diuresis. It is used to treat fever, thirst, restlessness, and difficult urination. ① "Gangmu": It can induce abortion and childbirth. "Jiangxi Herbal Medicine": "Clears heat, relieves restlessness, and promotes urination."
1. Treatment of fever, restlessness, and thirst: 9-15g of Suigu Zi root. Decoction and consumption. ("Jiangxi Herbal Medicine")
2. Treatment of nephritis: 15g of Suigu Zi root and 15g of Dijin. Decoction and consumption. ("Jiangxi Herbal Medicine")
【Plant Morphology of Suigu Zi】
1. Suigu Zi
Perennial herb, 40-90cm tall. Short and thick rhizome. Sparse fibrous roots, with thickened fusiform tuberous roots near the top or middle. Stem weak, slightly lignified.
Leaves alternate, broadly lanceolate, 5-20cm long, 1.5-3cm wide, gradually pointed or short pointed at the apex, entire margin, nearly circular or gradually narrowed into petiole or sessile at the base, parallel veins many, with obvious transverse veins, forming small rectangles, smooth or slightly prickly on both sides; leaf sheath smooth or with fibrous hairs; leaf tongue small, hard, 0.5-1mm long, with marginal hairs.
Corymbose panicle terminal, 10-30cm long, with few branches, sparse, ascending or spreading; spikelets linear-lanceolate, 7-12mm long (including short awns), 1.5-2.5mm wide, with stout spikelet pedicels about 1mm long; glume oblong, with five veins, blunt at the apex, thin membranous edge, the first glume shorter than the second glume;
The outer lemma is longer than the glume, needle-like, 6-7mm long, about 3mm wide, with a short pointed tip, and 5-7 veins. The inner lemma is shorter than the outer lemma, with a transparent membranous texture. The lemma fruit is fusiform and dark brown. Flowering period is from June to September, and fruiting period is from August to October.
2. Zhonghua Suigu Zi
The appearance and morphology of this species are similar to Suigu Zi. The difference is that the leaves of Zhonghua Suigu Zi can be as wide as 4cm. The corymbose panicle has shorter branches, 3-8cm long; spikelets are broadly lanceolate, 7-9cm long, 2.5-3mm wide; lemma is broadly ovate, with 5-7 veins; the first outer lemma is about 6mm long and about 5mm wide, with 7 veins, and a short awn less than 1mm long at the apex. The flowering period is from August to September, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
【Identification】
1. Dried rhizome and tuberous roots. The rhizome is cylindrical, connected segment by segment, with a partial stem and leaves at the upper end, rough surface, brown-gray or brown-black, and numerous tuberous roots clustered around.
2. Intact tuberous roots are spindle-shaped, 1-3cm long, 2-5mm in diameter, yellow-white to pale yellow on the surface, fleshy, with irregular wrinkles, and the broken surface is pale yellow-white.
