Acid vine wood refers to the branches, leaves, or roots of the acid vine plant in the Rubiaceae family. It has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, dispelling stasis, and stopping bleeding. It is commonly used to treat symptoms such as redness and swelling of the throat, and bleeding gums. However, due to the cool nature of acid vine wood, pregnant women should use it with caution. Let's learn more about the efficacy and actions of acid vine wood.
Picture of acid vine wood
【The efficacy and actions of acid vine wood】
Acid vine wood has a sour and astringent taste, and a cool nature. It belongs to the heart and spleen meridians. It has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, dispelling stasis, and stopping bleeding. It is mainly used to treat redness and swelling of the throat, bleeding gums, dysentery, diarrhea, ulcers, itchy skin, hemorrhoids, and bruises.
Usage: Internal use: decoction, 9-15g. External use: appropriate amount, crush and apply; or boil and wash with water; or use as a mouthwash.
1. Treatment for tinea capitis in children: 1.5g of acid vine wood roots, decoct in water to make a concentrated soup, and wash the affected area with warm water twice a day. Continue for 3 days. "Identification and Application of Common Chinese Herbal Medicines"
2. Treatment for prolapse of the anus and uterine prolapse: 30g of acid vine wood roots, 15g of castor bean roots, 25g of Ledeoura root, and appropriate amount of chicken, boil together and take orally. "Identification and Application of Common Chinese Herbal Medicines"
"Handbook of Common Chinese Herbal Medicines in Hainan Island": "Detoxify and reduce swelling." "Cure amenorrhea; fresh leaves: crush and extract juice for external application to treat itchy skin."
Precautions: Use with caution for pregnant women.
Picture of acid vine wood
【The original plant morphology of acid vine wood】
Acid vine, also known as sour fruit vine, is a climbing shrub or vine, rarely a small shrub, growing 1-3m tall. The leaves are opposite; the leaf stalk is 5-8mm long; the leaf blade is firm, inverted ovate or long ovate, 3-4cm long, and 1-1.5cm wide; rarely reaching 7cm long and 2.5cm wide, with a rounded, blunt or slightly concave tip; the base is wedge-shaped; the margin is entire; the back surface is often covered with a thin white powder, with raised midribs and inconspicuous lateral veins.
The inflorescence is cymose, axillary or lateral, borne on leafless branches of the previous year, 3-8mm long, sparsely covered with fine hairs, with 3-8 flowers at the base and 1-2 whorls of bracts; the flower stalk is about 1.5mm long, sometimes covered with fine hairs, the small bracts are lanceolate or long elliptic, with hairy margins, usually without glandular dots; the flower is tetramerous, about 2mm long; the calyx is united at the base to about 1/2 or 1/3, the calyx lobes are ovate or triangular, sharply pointed at the apex, with glandular dots; the petals are white or yellowish, separate, ovate or elliptic, with a rounded or blunt apex, about 2mm long, with hairy margins and densely covered with papillate projections on the inside, with glandular dots; the stamens are degenerated in female flowers and slightly exceed the petals in male flowers, with the filaments erect, the anthers with glandular dots on the back; the pistils are degenerated in male flowers and slightly longer than the petals in female flowers.
Picture of acid vine wood
【The biological characteristics of acid vine wood】
Acid vine wood is also known as white-backed acid vine, Tiantianba, paozi vine, underground dragon, acid vinegar wood, underwater dragon, and underground dragon.
The leaves of acid vine wood are often curled, and when flattened, they are inverted ovate to elliptic, 3-5.5cm long and 1-2.5cm wide, with a blunt or rounded tip, a wedge-shaped base, entire margins, and inconspicuous lateral veins.
The leaf stalk is short, 5-8mm long. Sometimes, small branches can be seen, which are cylindrical and vary in length, and are purplish-brown in color. It has a slight aroma and a sour taste.
Acid vine wood grows in grasslands, shrubs, or under the forest at an altitude of 100-1800m. It is distributed in Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan, and other places. It can be harvested throughout the year, washed, cut into sections, and used fresh or dried.
