Female wither is a highly valuable medicinal herb, which has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, warming the middle and regulating qi. In addition, its ornamental value should not be ignored. Let's learn about the application value of female wither.
Image of Female Wither
【The Efficacy and Function of Female Wither】
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, female wither has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, warming the middle and regulating qi. It is mainly used to treat rheumatism, vomiting and diarrhea, dysentery, abdominal pain, intestinal rumbling, difficult urination, edema, and other symptoms.
1. "Tang Bencao": "It is used to treat wind cold, sudden vomiting and diarrhea, intestinal rumbling with unpredictable movements, epilepsy, various cold and heat diseases, and excessive sweating."
2. "Hunan Medicinal Records": "It is used to treat edema in pregnant women and goiters in the neck."
4. It is used to treat chronic dysentery and prolapse of the anus: Take one sheng (approximately 500g) of female wither, burn and fumigate it. ("Collection of Tested Formulas for Childbirth and Lactation")
5. It is used to treat muscle and bone pain: Take five qian (approximately 15g) of female wither vine, five qian of Manxing Qianjinba vine, three qian of roadside thorn, and two qian of old hook vine. Decoct in water and take orally. ("Hunan Medicinal Records")
Image of Female Wither
【The Morphological Characteristics of Female Wither】
The stem of female wither is square-shaped, capable of reaching several meters in length, and can be coiled or cut into segments. It has a diameter of 1-5mm and a gray-green or brownish-green surface. It usually has six prominent longitudinal ridges.
It is covered with white soft hairs, brittle in texture, easy to break, and the cross-section is not flat. The wood part is yellowish-white and contains numerous small vascular pores. The pith is loose.
The leaves are opposite, trifoliate, and the leaflets are often wrinkled and broken. The intact leaflets are ovate or broadly ovate, with the terminal leaflet larger than the lateral leaflets, and often showing three shallow lobes that are not obvious.
The margin has irregular coarse serrations or teeth, dark green in color, and both sides are covered with short soft hairs. The total leaf stalk is 2-9cm long and often twisted. Some have flowers and fruits. It has a faint aroma and a slightly bitter and astringent taste.
Female wither is tolerant to cold (the stem and root system can withstand temperatures as low as -10°C), drought-resistant, and prefers light but not strong sunlight. It prefers deep fertile alkaline soil and light sandy loam with good drainage. The root system is yellow-brown fleshy roots and is not tolerant to waterlogging.
Image of Female Wither
【The Ornamental Value of Female Wither】
The female wither plant has a full and beautiful shape for improving the ornamental effect. It should not be pruned to prevent the removal of flower buds, resulting in no flowers to enjoy in the same year.
Generally, a slight pruning can be done after the plant enters dormancy in autumn, only removing excessively dense, slender, and diseased stem vines. For excessively long and elongated stem vines, pruning can also be used to shorten them.
The stems of female wither are thin and brittle, and they are easily broken, so attention should be paid to tying and pulling the stem vines. For branches that need to be preserved, care should be taken to protect them from breaking.
In garden cultivation, wooden sticks, bamboo, and other materials can be used to create a framework for the new stem vines to climb and grow, forming a tower-like structure. Female wither can also be cultivated near green corridors, allowing it to climb and grow on the support.
It can also be arranged in sparse shrub fences, allowing it to climb on the shrub fences, turning them into flower hedges. It can also be placed on walls, pergolas, balconies, porches, and other places, creating an exceptionally elegant and unique effect.
