Wild Sorghum is the root rhizome or whole plant of the herbaceous plant Miscanthus sinensis in the family Poaceae. It is mainly distributed in Shaanxi, Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet and other regions in China. The grains of wild sorghum can be used for food and brewing. Let's take a look at the efficacy and effects of wild sorghum.
Image of Wild Sorghum
【Botanical Morphology of Wild Sorghum】
Wild sorghum is a perennial herbaceous plant, 0.6-2.5 meters tall. It blooms and bears fruit from July to November. It has a slight aroma, and tastes spicy and astringent.
Wild sorghum grows in valleys, water ditches, forest edges, or damp places at an altitude of 900-3200m. It is distributed in Shaanxi, Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet and other regions.
The rhizome of wild sorghum is cylindrical, slightly curved, about 11cm long and about 2cm in diameter. The surface is dark brown, with numerous wart-like protrusions at the base, and there are many visible root scars and residual fine roots;
The upper stem base is densely covered with brown scales and long hairs. It is hard and not easy to break, with a powdery texture and reddish-brown color. The whole plant of wild sorghum is wrinkled. The stem is relatively thick and flattened cylindrical, with a brown to dark brown surface and brown glandular hairs.
The pinnate compound leaves are often fragmented, and the intact leaflets are ovate or rhomboid-elliptic, brownish, with heavily serrated edges; both the leaflet petiole and the leaf axis are covered with brown long hairs.
The inflorescence is a cone-shaped spike, and both the inflorescence axis and the flower stalk are covered with brown curled glandular hairs. The calyx of wild sorghum has 4-5 ovate, membranous, and brittle sepals; it has no petals. It has a slight aroma, and tastes spicy and astringent.
Image of Wild Sorghum
【Efficacy and Effects of Wild Sorghum】
Wild sorghum has the effects of promoting blood circulation, dispersing stasis, expelling wind and dampness, and relieving pain. It is used for rheumatism, injuries from falls, stomach pain, and yellow sores.
"Yunnan Herbal Medicine": "Relieves pain, promotes blood circulation, and disperses stasis. Used to treat chronic gastritis and injuries from falls."
"Selected Yunnan Herbal Medicine": "The whole plant expels wind and dampness. Used to treat rheumatic pain."
Wild sorghum often grows in patches, becoming food for sparrows and other birds, and can also be used as animal feed. The tender leaves can be dried in the shade for silage;
or dried to be used as feed, in the form of granules, with a white interior. The grains of wild sorghum can be used for food and brewing, and can be directly consumed as a staple food.
Usage: Internal use: decoction, 3-5 qian. External use: grind into powder and apply.
Treatment of yellow sores: grind the roots of wild sorghum into powder, mix with sesame oil, and apply to the affected area. ("Yunnan Herbal Medicine")
【Appreciation of Wild Sorghum Images】
