"What Are the Advantages and Uses of Chinese Soapberry Thorn?"

Properties and Benefits of Gleditsia Sinensis Spine

Gleditsia sinensis spine can reduce swelling, eliminate toxins, and facilitate the discharge of pus. It also exhibits insecticidal properties. After processing, the medicinal properties of Gleditsia sinensis spine become more potent and purer, enabling the dissolution of active ingredients that are conducive to dosage adjustments and formulation. This herb can alleviate abscesses and toxic swellings, and is effective against leprosy, scabies, postpartum lactation insufficiency, and retained placenta. Let's delve into its specific effects and uses.

1. Effects and Uses of Gleditsia Sinensis Spine

• For abscesses and toxic swellings: When the abscess has not matured, it is often combined with pangolin scales and honeysuckle. A classic prescription is the Xianfang Huoming Decoction. For mature abscesses that fail to rupture due to deficiency, it is paired with pangolin scales, astragalus, and angelica sinensis, as seen in the Tonong Powder.
• For leprosy, ringworm, and swollen tongue in children: To treat leprosy, Gleditsia sinensis spine is burned into ash and taken with rhubarb decoction, akin to the Ersheng Powder. For ringworm, the spine is boiled in strong rice vinegar and applied topically. For swollen tongue in children, the ashed spine is mixed with a small amount of mirabilite and borneol and placed under the tongue.
• For hemorrhoids and anal itching: It can be used in conjunction with ailanthus bark, fructus aurantii, and radix paeoniae rubra, following the formula of Zhaojiaoci Pill.
• For postpartum lactation insufficiency or difficulty breastfeeding: It is often combined with pangolin scales, vaccaria seeds, and tetrapanax papyriferus, among others.

2. Processing Effects of Gleditsia Sinensis Spine

Gleditsia sinensis spine has a pungent and warm nature, associating with the liver, lung, and stomach meridians. It possesses the abilities to reduce swelling, eliminate toxins, facilitate pus discharge, and kill insects. Processing enhances its purity, favors the dissolution of active ingredients, and simplifies dosage adjustments and formulation. It is used to treat abscesses, scrofula, leprosy, scabies, postpartum lactation insufficiency, and retained placenta.

3. Criteria for Selecting High-Quality Gleditsia Sinensis Spine

Gleditsia sinensis spine is the thorn found on the stems of the Gleditsia sinensis tree, a deciduous tree belonging to the Fabaceae family. Warm and pungent in nature, it can alleviate swelling, discharge pus, and treat wind-related ailments and insects. Clinically, it is commonly used for abscesses, mastitis, carbuncles, leprosy, and skin diseases. It appears as long conical thorns with several branches arranged spirally. The entire spine is reddish-brown or purple-red, smooth, solid, and difficult to break, with a central reddish-brown, soft pith. Upon harvest, it is often processed into thin, willow-leaf-shaped slices while fresh, often retaining sharp tips. The wood part is yellowish-white, with a pale reddish-brown, loose pith in the center. It has no discernible odor and a faint taste. High-quality Gleditsia sinensis spine is characterized by long thorns, thin slices, a purple-brown color, and the presence of pith.