Nowadays, "reversed root Pu'er tea" is very popular, but many people don't know what reversed root is. Reversed root, a traditional Chinese medicine, refers to the roots of the plant soaked in water, which belongs to the Rosaceae family. It has the effects of promoting blood circulation, stopping bleeding, dispelling wind, and removing dampness. Let's get to know the traditional Chinese medicine reversed root together!
What is reversed root?
Reversed root is a shrub that grows about 1-3m tall. Its stem is upright or curved in an arch shape, reddish-brown, with hooked flat thorns. Its odd-pinnate compound leaves have a leaf stalk that is 2-4cm long, and both the leaf stalk and leaf axis are covered with small thorns. The petioles are lanceolate, and the leaflets are 5-7 in number. The terminal leaflet has a stalk that is 1-2cm long, while the lateral leaflets are almost stalkless. The leaf blades are ovate, elliptic, or rhomboid-ovate, measuring 3-6cm in length and 1.5-4cm in width. The apex is acute, and the base is broad-wedge-shaped or nearly circular. The leaf edges have irregular conical acute serrations or coarsely serrated notches, and the lower surface is grayish-green with soft hairs or pubescence along the veins.
Its umbel inflorescence is terminal or axillary, and both the peduncles and pedicels are covered with soft hairs. The flowers are pink and have a diameter of 8-10mm. The sepals are obovate-lanceolate in shape and have hairs on the outer surface. The aggregate fruit is ovoid, measuring 5mm in diameter, and is red in color. The flowering period is from April to June, and the fruiting period is from June to August.
What are the effects and functions of reversed root?
In traditional Chinese medicine, reversed root is believed to have the effects of promoting blood circulation, stopping bleeding, dispelling wind, and removing dampness. It is commonly used for injuries from falls, fractures, irregular menstruation, vomiting blood, epistaxis, rheumatic arthralgia, edema, difficulty urinating, and scrofula.
1. "Caomu Bianfang": "It can treat scrofula, tears in the eyes, corneal opacity after smallpox, dispel wind and remove dampness, and treat dog bites."
2. "Chongqing Herbal Medicine": "It promotes Qi circulation, nourishes the kidneys and fluids. It is used to treat exhaustion and vomiting blood, irregular menstruation, itching, and scrofula."
3. "Shaanxi Chinese Herbal Medicine": "It regulates menstruation, promotes blood circulation, stops bleeding and relieves pain. It is used to treat injuries from falls, fractures, infertility, irregular menstruation, and nosebleeds."
Here is an image of reversed root:
