Blackbone is used for dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation, and reducing swelling. It is mainly used for treating injuries, rheumatism, amenorrhea, breast abscess, and fractures. Let's take a look at the plant morphology and distribution of blackbone together!
Image of Blackbone
[Alias] Iron sand, iron bone, cow's tail fern, mountain tendon line (Guangxi Medicinal Plant Catalog), mountain willow, green snake bile, small green snake, willow leaf clip (Kunming Folk Common Herbal Medicine), black dragon bone, flying fairy vine; Dafeng vine (Yunnan Selected Medicinal Plants), little black cow, green fragrant vine, milk vine, green dan, black bone vine, green wind vine (Yunnan Medicinal Plants).
[Source] Blackbone refers to the root or whole plant of the plant called Southwest Willow.
[Plant Morphology] Southwest Willow, also known as Dian Willow.
Evergreen climbing vine, reaching over 10 meters in length. The whole plant is hairless and contains latex. The root is slender, curved, aromatic, and brown.
The base of the stem is woody and fibrous. Leaves are opposite; narrowly lanceolate, measuring 2.3-6 cm in length and 0.4-1 cm in width; pointed at the apex, wide-wedge-shaped at the base, smooth on both sides; short petiole.
Umbel inflorescences are axillary or terminal, with three flowers; small flowers; five petals, oval-shaped, pointed at the end, dark greenish-yellow. The fruit is paired, long-conical, oblique, measuring 6-10 cm in length, gradually tapering towards the upper end; containing numerous seeds with white long silky hairs.
Found in sparse forests in the mountains. Distributed in Tibet, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, and other regions.
[Habitat Distribution]
Ecological environment: It grows in sunny or shady and humid mixed forests or shrubs below an altitude of 2000 meters.
Resource distribution: Distributed in Tibet, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Southwest China, Qinghai, and other regions.
Image of Blackbone
[Collection] It is collected in autumn and winter, washed, sliced, and dried.
[Chemical Composition and Pharmacological Effects] Dian Willow glycoside (crude glycoside) extracted from the fresh stem bark of Southwest Willow has a cardiac stimulant effect, similar to G-strophanthin. The average lethal dose of Dian Willow glycoside for pigeons is 5.9±1.0 mg/kg, lower than G-strophanthin.
[Properties] "Bitter, cool, slightly toxic." (Kunming Folk Common Herbal Medicine)
[Effects and Functions of Blackbone]
Promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis, dispels wind and dampness, has anti-inflammatory effects. It is used to treat injuries, rheumatic joint pain, irregular menstruation, oral inflammation, and mastitis.
① "Clears heat and stops bleeding. It is used to treat injuries, typhoid fever, wasting injury, malaria, and abdominal pain." (Guangxi Medicinal Plant Catalog)
② "Dispels wind and dampness, promotes blood circulation, and detoxifies. It is used to treat rheumatic joint pain, hot and toxic skin diseases, mastitis, pharyngitis, and oral inflammation." (Kunming Folk Common Herbal Medicine)
③ "Relaxes muscles and tendons, dispels wind and dampness. It is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, injuries, stomach pain, indigestion, amenorrhea, and irregular menstruation." (Yunnan Selected Medicinal Plants)
④ "Used to treat labor cough." (Guizhou Medicinal Plant Catalog)
[Dosage and Administration] Internally: Decoction, 1-2 qian (3-6 grams); or soaked in alcohol. Externally: Decoction for washing or crushed and applied.
[Precautions] "Patients with hepatitis and gastrointestinal ulcers should avoid taking it. The daily dosage should not exceed three qian (9 grams). Overdose may cause convulsions and even death." (Yunnan Medicinal Plants)
