Dajiu Gu Niu is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine that clears heat and detoxifies. It is the rhizome of the plant Asarum heterotropoides of the Annonaceae family. It is mainly harvested in autumn, winter, and spring, and after being washed and sliced, it can be dried and used. Now, let's teach you how to identify Dajiu Gu Niu.
Dajiu Gu Niu picture
Identification of Dajiu Gu Niu
Dajiu Gu Niu is cylindrical, with a length of 3.7-7.5cm. The surface is gray-white or light brown, opaque. If the outer skin is not completely removed, 3-4 rings and longitudinal lines can be seen, and one layer of skin can be peeled off, resembling fibrous. There are obvious knife marks. There is a concave or protruding residual stem mark at the top. It is hard and not easy to break, and the cross-section is uneven, resembling wood. It has a slight aroma and a slight bitter taste.
Dajiu Gu Niu picture
Microscopic Identification of Dajiu Gu Niu
Powder characteristics: light brown.
① Numerous starch grains, single or compound. The single grains are round, helmet-shaped, or axe-shaped, and a few are irregular quadrilateral with unequal sides, with a diameter of 3-8-13μm. Larger starch grains occasionally have "cross" shaped hilum, and the stratification is not obvious. Compound grains consist of 2-4 sub-grains, and the sub-grains are often helmet-shaped, semi-circular, or triangular with edges.
② Calcium oxalate cluster crystals exist in the cork inner layer and the thin-walled cells of the cortex, with a flower-like or petal-like shape, with a diameter of 8-26μm.
Dajiu Gu Niu picture
③ The vessels are reticulated, with a diameter of up to 80μm, and the end walls are inclined, with oblong pits. Fragments of vessels with large pitted vessel fragments can also be seen.
④ The wood parenchyma is in the form of blocky pieces, with cells that are rectangular or elongated, with slightly thickened walls.
Clinical Application of Dajiu Gu Niu
Treatment of lung heat cough: Dajiu Gu Niu root (peeled) 15g, Xianglingcao 6g, Wacao 6g. Grind into powder, take 6g each time, twice a day.
Treatment of mastitis, parotitis, carbuncle, and abscess: Dajiu Gu Niu, Chonglou, Baiji, Xiaozhanyao, Wuxiang Xueteng, equal parts, grind into powder, mix with honey or vinegar and apply externally.
