The Chinese herb Da Wei Yao is the whole herb or root of the plant Da Wei Yao, which belongs to the family Rubiaceae. It is mainly distributed in Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan, and other places in China. Da Wei Yao can treat pneumonia!
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Da Wei Yao has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and diuresis. It is used for pneumonia, empyema, sore throat, oral ulcer, bladder stones, boils, and other conditions.
Da Wei Yao is also known as Gou Wei Cao or Quan Chong Cao. It is an annual herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 15-60cm. The root is cylindrical and turns yellowish-brown when dried. The stem is erect, stout, and branches frequently, with rough, prostrate hairs.
The leaves are opposite or nearly opposite; the petiole is 2-5cm long; the leaf blade is ovate or elliptic, measuring 4-10cm in length and 2-4cm in width. The apex is short-pointed or gradually pointed, and the base is round or truncate, extending down to the petiole. The margin is slightly serrated or slightly wavy, and both sides are sparsely covered with short rough hairs. The inflorescence is scorpion-tailed cyme, measuring 5-20cm in length, slender and curved, solitary without branches, terminal or opposite to leaves, without bracts.
The flowers are small and densely arranged in two rows on one side of the inflorescence axis. The calyx is deeply divided into 5 lanceolate lobes, covered with rough prostrate hairs. The corolla is pale blue or blue-purple, occasionally white, saucer-shaped with a high foot, measuring 3-5mm in length, and shallowly divided into 5 lobes at the apex. The lobes are nearly circular, expanded, the throat is smooth without appendages. There are 5 stamens hidden inside, attached to the base of the corolla tube. The ovary is small, and the style and stigma are very short. The stigma is wide and conical, with a flat top.
The fruit is ovoid, measuring 4-5mm in length, with longitudinal ribs and 2 deep splits. Each split segment is divided into 2 lobes, each containing a single seed. The flowering period is from April to July, and the fruiting period is from August to October.
1. "Selected Compilation of Guangxi Materia Medica": "Clears heat, detoxifies, drains pus, and reduces swelling."
2. "National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicines": "Clears heat, detoxifies. It is used for treating pneumonia, lung abscess, empyema, diarrhea, dysentery, orchitis, diphtheria, oral ulcer, and boils."
