Chinese Herbs. John D. Keys

Chinese Herbs

GINKGO BILOBA L. (Ginkgoaceae) The only living representative of the order Ginkgoales, once a widely distributed group throughout the Mesozoic Era. It is a tall, resinous tree, growing to 35 m. Leaves deciduous, alternate, lengthily petiolate, fan-shaped, bilobate, base wedge-shaped, 6-9 cm. broad, turning yellow in autumn; venation dichotomously branching, seemingly parallel. Staminate and ovulate strobuli on separate trees; staminate strobuli consisting of naked pairs of anthers in catkin-like clusters; ovulate strobuli in the form of long, slender, fused stalks bearing a single naked ovule which is fertilized by motile sperm cells, developing into two seeds. Seeds yellow when mature, foul-smelling, drupe-like, the middle layer of integument becoming hard, the outer layer fleshy. China. (Syn. Salisburia adianthifolia Smith., S. macrophylla C. Koch) The ripe fruits, macerated in vegetable oil for 100 days, have been used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in China, but there has not been sufficient indication to classify the drug as specific. The outer fleshy portion of the fruit is very stimulating to the epidermis and mucous membrane, inducing inflammation and exanthema. The kernels are used as aliment in China, however large amounts may be toxic, inducing convulsions, pyreticosis, emesis, and dyspnea. The kernels are used as astringent, sedative, antitussive in asthma. Dose, 5-10 gm., shelled and cooked. The outer pulp of the fresh fruit is employed as vesicant.

GYMNOSPERMAE: Coniferales

THUJA ORIENTALIS L. (Pinaceae)

A shrub pyramidal in form, the branches compressed. Leaves opposite, small, scaly, imbricate, those of the extreme twigs obtuse, those of the larger branches acute or awl-shaped. Flowers monoecious, in catkins, April; male flowers globular, isolated, stamens 3-6; female flowers terminal. Cone ovoid, 1.5-2.5 cm. long, scales 6, spines oval-obtuse; two seeds per scale, ovoid, brownish; August-September. China, Japan, India. (Syn. Biota orientalis Endl.B. chinensis Hort., Thuja chinensis Hort.) Both the leaves and the seeds are employed medicinally. The plant contains a volatile oil comprising pinene and caryophyllene; the bitter principle pinipicrin C₂₂H₁₈O₁₁; thujin C₂₀H₂₂O₁₂, a yellow, astringent and crystallizable coloring principle; tannin; resin. The taste of the leaves is bittersweet and astringent; that of the seeds, sweetish. The leaves are employed as astringent, antipyretic, emmenagogue. Dose, 5-10 gm. The seeds are used as sedative in neurasthenia, palpitation, insomnia; as lenitive in enterostenosis. Dose, 5-15 gm.

TORREYA GRANDIS Fortune (Taxaceae)

An evergreen tree growing to 20 m., branches yellowish green at 2 years. Leaves stiff, 1.5-2.5 cm. long, nearly round at the base, acute, prickly at the tip, surface lightly convex, dark green, underside marked with 2 discolored streaks, median vein indistinct above. Flowers dioecious; the male in catkins formed of stiff imbricate scales; the female in pairs, axillary, globular, surrounded with 4 large scales, a single terminal ovule. Fruit oblong-elliptical; September. Central China. (Syn T. nucifera var. grandis Pilger.) The seeds are elongate, pointed at the tip, round at the base, 35 mm. in length, 15 mm. in diameter, of a light brown color. They contain a large amount of fatty oil, torreyol, which comprises linoleic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. Injected into the lymphatic sac of frogs, the oil induces motor inhibition, paralysis, and death.⁷⁰ The oil acts as a nerve poison. An infusion of the seed is anthelmintic to Ascaris, Enterobius, Taenia, and Ancylostoma. The seeds are employed as vermifuge. Dose, 10-35 gm.

GYMNOSPERMAE: Gnetales

EPHEDRA SINICA Stapf. (Gnetaceae)

Ma Huang. An erect or prostrate undershrub, 30-50 cm. tall. Branches erect, short, glaucous green, somewhat flat, 1.0-1.5 mm. thick, lightly striate lengthwise, fasciated at the nodes. Leaves opposite, reduced to scales barely 2 mm. Male flowers pedunculate or nearly sessile, grouped in catkins composed of 4-8 pairs of flowers with about 8 anthers; female flowers biflorous, pedunculate with 3-4 pairs of scales. Fruit red, globular, fleshy, 6-7 mm. long. Northern China, Mongolia, Europe. (Syn. E. distachya L.) The roots and stems contain up to 1 % of the alkaloid ephedrine C₁₀H₁₅NO, along with variable quantities of isomers. Ephedrine dilates the bronchi, stimulates the respiratory center, and acts as a preventive in bronchial asthma.¹⁶ Its vasoconstrictive action shrinks congested mucous membrane. The heart muscle is stimulated, inducing palpitation and hypertension; the blood pressure is raised. It stimulates the cerebral cortex and results in nervous excitability. A 1-2% solution produces mydriasis when applied locally to the iris. The stem and root are used in bronchial asthma, hay fever, trachitis. Dose, 3-10 gm. (E. equisetina Bunge. is also employed.)

ANGIOSPERMAE Monocotyledonae

ALISMA PLANTAGO L. (Alismaceae)

Water plantain, a perennial marsh herb 0.1-1.0 m. tall. Stem erect. Leaves basal, petiolate, simple, lanceolate, base cordate or round. Inflorescence in verticillate divisions, large, paniculate, bracteal. Flowers red or white, small; May-September; sepals 3; petals 3, larger than the sepals; stamens 6; carpels numerous, laterally compressed. Seeds glossy, compressed laterally. Northern Hemisphere. (Syn. A. cordifolia Thunb.) The root is officinal. It occurs as ovoid, whitish, with circular depressions. The taste is bitter. It contains a highly volatile oil, 23 % starch, and a very acrid resin.¹⁵¹ An extract of the root increases urinary excretion.⁵⁰ The drug is believed by the Chinese to stimulate the female genitalia.¹⁴⁶ Employed as diuretic. Dose, 5-15 gm.

CURCULIGO ENSIFOLIA R. Br. (Amaryllidaceae)

A biennial herb with a tuberous root. Stem to 40 cm. Leaves basal, petiolate, lanceolate, 15-40 cm. long by 12-35 mm. wide, acuminate at both extremities. Inflorescence sessile, in the floral sheaths. Flowers yellow, close to the ground; perianth tubular with 6 regular lobes; stamens 6; ovary inferior, rostrate, 3-celled; stigmas 3. Fruit bacciform, surmounted with the persistent perianth tube. Southern China, Indochina, India, Malaya. (Syn. C. malabarica, C. stans Labill., C. orchioides Gaertn., Hypoxis minor Seen., H. orchioides Kurz.) The tubercles are used medicinally. They occur the size of the small finger, the epidermis coarse, dark brown, interior yellowish white. The taste is bittersweet and pungent. The drug is slightly poisonous. It contains 4% tannin, fat, resin, and starch.¹⁴⁰ Used as stimulating tonic in premature senility, to increase virility, for nerve tone, in neurasthenia, also as digestant and to stimulate the appetite.

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