What Are the Health Benefits and Functions of Dianbaizhu?
The efficacy and function of Dianbaizhu are to dispel wind and eliminate dampness, detoxify and relieve pain. Dianbaizhu is an evergreen shrub with grayish-black bark. Its leaves are oblong to long ovate in shape, leathery, and fragrant. The tip is caudate and acute, the base is blunt or heart-shaped, and the edges are serrated. The berries are spherical, black, and split into 5 lobes; the seeds are numerous. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from July to November. The branches and leaves contain aromatic oil, and the whole plant can be used as medicine. However, it is toxic and has pharmacological effects.
The main functions of Dianbaizhu are to dispel wind and eliminate dampness, detoxify and relieve pain. It is used for rheumatic joint pain and externally for treating sores and swellings. The dosage is 2-3 qian, decocted for oral administration. For external use, an appropriate amount can be decocted and used to fumigate and wash the affected area. It can be used to treat rheumatic arthralgia regardless of whether it is new or chronic. It can be used in combination with Wujiapi, Rendongteng, Yousongjie, and Weilingxian. For injuries, bruises, blood stasis pain, or menstrual disorders in women, it can be used in combination with Danggui, Taoren, and Zelan. Additionally, this herb can also be used to treat abscesses, boils, and snake and insect bites. A suitable amount of fresh herb can be pounded and applied externally.
The racemes are axillary, with an axis length of 5-7 (-11) cm. They are slender and covered with soft hairs. There are 10-15 flowers, sparsely arranged, and the base of the raceme axis is wrapped by scale-like bracts. The pedicels are about 1 cm long and glabrous. The bracts are oval, 3-4 mm long, with a convex tip and white marginal hairs. There are 2 small bracts, opposite or nearly opposite, attached to the upper part of the pedicel near the calyx. They are lanceolate-triangular, about 1.5 mm long, and slightly covered with marginal hairs. The calyx lobes are 5, ovate-triangular, blunt, and with marginal hairs. The corolla is white-green, bell-shaped, about 6 mm long, with a 5-lobed mouth, and each lobe is 2 mm long and wide. There are 10 stamens attached to the base of the corolla, with short and thick filaments. The anthers have 2 locules, and each locule has 2 awns at the top. The ovary is spherical, hairy, and the style is glabrous and shorter than the corolla.
