Five Claws Wind, also known as Five Claws Golden Dragon, Five Fingers Milk, and Earth Five Plus Skin, is derived from the root of the Moraceae plant, Ficus hirta.
[Morphological Characteristics]
Shrub or small tree. The young branches are hollow, and the twigs, stipules, leaves, and inflorescences are all covered with short, hard hairs. The leaves are simple, opposite, and variable in shape, ranging from long elliptical to lanceolate or broadly ovate. They are 8-25 cm long and 4-10 (or 18) cm wide, with an acute or gradually pointed apex and a rounded or heart-shaped base. They are often 3-5 deeply lobed with serrated or entire margins. The upper surface is rough, with 3-7 veins originating from the base. The inflorescence bracts are axillary or borne in leaf axils of fallen leaves, spherical, with a diameter of 5-10 mm. There is a navel-like protuberance on the top. It flowers in April.
[Ecological Distribution]
It grows in open fields in villages, forming thickets. It is found in Longzhou, Guiping, Jinxiu, and other counties and cities in Guangxi. It is distributed in southern China and various provinces in southwest China.
[Collection and Processing]
It can be collected throughout the year and sliced and dried for later use.
[Properties and Functions]
It has a sweet taste and a slightly warm nature. It invigorates the spleen, transforms dampness, promotes qi circulation, relieves pain, relaxes tendons, activates collaterals, transforms phlegm, stops coughing, nourishes the lungs, and promotes lactation.
[Traditional Applications]
It is used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, chronic hepatitis, ascites due to liver cirrhosis, post-illness or postpartum weakness, insufficient breast milk production after childbirth, cold stomach pain, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic bone pain, postpartum wind, numbness of limbs, wind-heart disease, and anemia.
[Dosage and Administration]
15-30 grams. Decoction with water or stewed with lean pork for consumption.
[Clinical Cases]
1. Chronic bronchitis
Five Claws Wind (Ficus hirta) 60 grams, Pengqianshi (Rhododendron simsii) 24 grams, Gonggaiye (Hedyotis diffusa) 30 grams, Ganmomi (Houttuynia cordata) 12 grams, Baimianfeng (Senecio japonicus) 9 grams, Jiemomei (Centipeda minima) 15 grams. Decoction and take twice a day.
2. Anemia
Five Claws Wind (Ficus hirta), Maloushuang (Eucommia ulmoides), Jiucengfeng (Aristolochia debilis), Jieduanpang (Nymphoides peltata), Zoumafeng (Leonurus heterophyllus) each 15 grams. Stew with pig trotters and consume.
3. Wind-heart disease, coronary heart disease
Five Claws Wind (Ficus hirta), Jiucengfeng (Aristolochia debilis), Jiulongzuan (Aristolochia mollissima), Baowanfeng (Agastache rugosa), Sifangzuan (Caulis clematidis) each 10-15 grams. Decoction and consume. For coronary heart disease, add Congliang (Myristica fragrans) fruit.
[Chemical Components]
It contains amino acids, sugars, steroids, and coumarins.
