Ge Shan Xiang is a perennial herbaceous plant that is native to Zhejiang and Guangxi provinces in China. Its root is used in traditional medicine for its ability to clear heat, reduce swelling, and relieve cough and phlegm. It is commonly used in the treatment of colds, coughs, and other respiratory conditions.
Image of Ge Shan Xiang
【Introduction to Ge Shan Xiang】
Ge Shan Xiang has the following functions: dispersing wind, clearing heat, relieving cough, reducing swelling, and alleviating pain. It is used for the treatment of colds, coughs, headaches, abdominal pain, dysentery, hepatitis, rheumatism, hernia, irregular menstruation, bruises, abscesses, and snake bites.
Processing method: Remove impurities, wash with water, drain, moisten, and cut into 0.6-1cm slices. Dry in the sun or oven dry, and remove any ash residue.
Collection and processing: Harvest the roots after autumn, remove the stems and leaves, wash them, and use them fresh or dry them. Collect the whole plant in summer and autumn, remove dirt and impurities, and use them fresh or dry them.
Habitat and distribution: Ge Shan Xiang grows wild on sunny slopes in shrubs or at the edge of forests. It is found in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, and other provinces, and is mainly produced in Zhejiang and Guangxi.
Identification: The dried roots of Ge Shan Xiang are spindle-shaped or cylindrical, measuring 9-15cm in length and 0.8-1.5cm in diameter. They are brownish-yellow or dark yellow in appearance, with distinct longitudinal wrinkles and root scars, and residual leaf stems at the top. The texture is hard, and the cross-section is yellowish-white. It has a slight fragrance and a slightly sweet and bitter taste.
Image of Ge Shan Xiang
【Pharmacological effects of Ge Shan Xiang】
1. Antitussive, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory effects
The distillate of Ge Shan Xiang has a significant antitussive effect on cough induced by ammonia in guinea pigs, and can promote the discharge of phenol red from the bronchi of mice, indicating its expectorant effect. The inhibitory rate on foot swelling and inflammation in rats is similar to that of 0.25% dexamethasone.
2. Effects on smooth muscles
Crystalline isocarveol (Ⅰ) obtained from the ethyl ether extract of Ge Shan Xiang roots, when formulated into a suspension with Tween-80, has a certain antispasmodic effect on isolated rabbit intestines, guinea pig tracheas, and rabbit aortas, and can also inhibit in situ small intestinal peristalsis.
3. Antibacterial effects
In vitro antibacterial tests show that the distillate of Ge Shan Xiang has a certain inhibitory effect on Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, influenza virus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Image of Ge Shan Xiang
【Compatibility and applications of Ge Shan Xiang】
1. For colds: Take 15g of Ge Shan Xiang, 6g of Perilla leaves, and 3 slices of ginger. Decoct with water and drink.
2. For acute mastitis: Take 30g each of Ge Shan Xiang root and Xiao Fan Tian Hua root. Decoct with water and drink.
3. For chronic bronchitis: Take 30g each of Ge Shan Xiang root and Fan Tian Hua root. Decoct with water and drink.
4. For folliculitis: Take 60g of Ge Shan Xiang whole plant, and 30g each of Hibiscus leaves and Malva leaves. Decoct with water and use for washing the affected area.
5. For neck abscess: Take 120g of Ge Shan Xiang root and 2 eggs. Decoct with water, eat the eggs, and drink the soup.
6. For snake bites: Take 30g each of Ge Shan Xiang root and a yellow flower. Decoct with water and drink, and apply the residue as a poultice.
