Shuo He Root Wine is a traditional medicinal wine commonly used to treat various sores and injuries. So, what are the pharmacological effects of Shuo He? Below, I will provide a detailed introduction to its pharmacological effects and accompanying prescriptions.
Pharmacological Effects of Shuo He
① Accelerating Bone Healing
Rabbits with artificially induced fractures were fixed with splints and treated with topical Shuo He wine every 3 days. They were also orally administered Shuo He decoction daily. At the end of the 4th week, X-ray images showed dense bone callus and significant calcification. Tissue sections revealed that the majority of the large bone callus had ossified, and a large number of bone trabeculae had formed. The injected phosphorus-32 in the local hematoma of the fracture site dissipated quickly after the application of Shuo He, indicating a "blood-activating and stasis-dispersing" effect. The deposition of phosphorus in the tissues was also higher than in the control group, suggesting that Shuo He promotes the deposition of phosphorus in the bone callus and accelerates bone healing.
② Anti-inflammatory Effect
When applied topically on rabbits, Shuo He did not cause local vasodilation. Its decoction had no significant vasoconstrictive effect on frog's limbs, but at higher concentrations, it showed significant vasoconstrictive effect on isolated rabbit ear blood vessels. Its ointment also mildly reduced capillary permeability in rabbits and mice. These effects may be related to its anti-inflammatory properties.
③ Other Effects
Shuo He decoction did not exhibit analgesic effects in mice using the hot plate method, nor did it show inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in vitro.
Accompanying Prescriptions for Shuo He
1. For treating painful and weak limbs due to cold and dampness or for lumbago with leg cramps: Burn the leaves of Shuo He and place them thickly on a warm bed or pillow. Repeat the process of burning and applying heat. In winter, use the roots; in spring, use the stems. Decoct and lie on them for better effect. No other thin heat application method is as effective as steaming with Shuo He. It can also be used for wind-dampness in other areas. (Source: "Qian Jin Fang")
2. For treating edema, inability to sit or lie down, and swelling of the head, face, and body: Scrape off the skin of Shuo He roots, pound them into juice, mix with an equal amount of wine, warm it up, and take it on an empty stomach for slight vomiting and laxative effect. (Source: "Mei Shi Ji Yan Fang")
3. For treating initial athlete's foot with swelling and pain from the foot to the shinbone, or for treating numb and stubborn paralysis: Crush the Shuo He roots, mix them with three parts of rice wine lees, and steam them. Apply the mixture to the swollen area, change it twice a day. It can also be used for other stubborn paralysis. (Source: "Qian Jin Fang")
4. For treating nephritis edema and edema caused by athlete's foot: Take four to eight qian of the entire Shuo He plant, decoct and drink the liquid. (Source: "Common Manual of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in Guangzhou Troops")
5. For treating jaundice: Stew the roots of Shuo He with pork belly and consume. (Source: "Sichuan Materia Medica")
6. For treating urinary tract infection: Take three to four liang of fresh Shuo He roots and stew them with pork blood (pork tripe is also good). Administer for three to four times. (Source: "Quanzhou Materia Medica")
7. For treating abnormal vaginal discharge in women: Take three liang of fresh Shuo He roots and stew them with pig intestines. Administer for three to five times. (Source: "Quanzhou Materia Medica")
8. For treating pain and fractures caused by falls or injuries: Take six qian of Shuo He roots. Decoct with equal parts of wine and water, filter out the residue, add one liang of white sugar, mix well, and consume. (Source: "Folk Medicinal Herbs in Jiangxi Province")
9. For treating fractures: Grind the fresh Shuo He roots, along with its bark and leaves, into a paste, and apply externally. (Source: "Selected Chinese Medicinal Herbs in Yunnan Province")
10. For treating bruises or sprained tendons with swelling and pain: Chop the fresh Shuo He roots, mix with spring onion white and rice wine lees, pound into a paste, and apply to the affected area. Change it once a day. (Source: "Folk Medicinal Herbs in Jiangxi Province")
11. For treating rheumatoid arthritis, chronic lumbago, acute sprained swelling, and edema: Take five qian to one mace of the whole Shuo He plant. Decoct and drink, or use the decoction for external washing. (Source: "Selected Chinese Medicinal Herbs in Yunnan Province")
12. For treating vomiting blood caused by injuries: Take three qian of dried Shuo He roots, three qian of Cephalotaxus fortunei leaves, and four qian of Sanguisorba officinalis. Decoct and consume. (Source: "Folk Medicinal Herbs in Zhejiang Province")
13. For treating pruritus caused by viral rash: Use the whole Shuo He plant to make a decoction for external washing. (Source: "Common Manual of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in Guangzhou Troops")
14. For treating red rashes on infants: Use the juice of Shuo He to wash the affected area. (Source: "Zi Mu Mi Lu")
15. For treating abscesses with incomplete healing: Mix Shuo He ash with lime and extract the juice from both. Cook the mixture until it becomes a paste. Apply the paste to the affected area to heal the abscess and remove black spots. This medicine is not effective after ten days. (Source: "Qian Jin Fang")
16. For treating red and swollen abscesses: Crush the fresh roots or leaves of Shuo He, mix with a little chicken egg, and apply to the affected area. (Source: "Folk Medicinal Herbs in Jiangxi Province")
