1. Alias
Wooden crab, civil engineering turtle, shell wood turtle, leaking lingzi, and ground paulownia.
2. Plant morphology
Perennial herbaceous vine, 4-8 meters long. The root tuber is thick, nearly round, and slightly branched. The stem is almost hairless, with sharp edges and single tendrils. Leaves alternate, petiole length 5-10 cm, 3-5 palmately lobed to deeply lobed, length 8-22 cm, width nearly equal to length, apex short and gradually pointed, base heart-shaped, with 1-2 larger glands on each side near the petiole, middle lobes rhomboid ovate, lateral lobes triangular ovate, edges with wavy triangular teeth. The flowers are male and female plants or the same plant, solitary, with very long flower stalks. Each flower has one green round kidney shaped bract, with five sepals and dark purple stripes. The corolla is bell shaped, light yellow, with a diameter of about 6 centimeters and five lobes. The lobes are inverted oval shaped, with three stamens and a lower ovary. The fruit is broadly elliptical to ovoid in shape, measuring 12-15 centimeters in length and 8-9.5 centimeters in diameter. The seeds are large, with 35-50 seeds. The flowering period is from May to September, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
3. Origin distribution
Born in hillside shrubs, forest edges, riverbanks, and also cultivated. Distributed in Sichuan, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan.
4. Harvesting and processing
Harvest mature fruits in winter, cut them open, sun dry until semi dry, remove the flesh, take out the seeds, and dry them.
5. Characteristics of medicinal herbs
It is in the shape of a flat circular plate, slightly raised or depressed in the middle, with a diameter of 2-4cm and a thickness of about 0.5cm. The surface is gray brown to black brown, with a mesh pattern, and a light yellow navel on a larger toothed protrusion at the edge. The outer seed coat is hard and brittle, while the inner seed coat is gray green and fuzzy like. Leaves 2, yellow white, rich in oil. There is a special greasy smell and bitter taste.
6. Sexual Taste Returning to the Classics
Cold in nature, with a bitter and slightly sweet taste. Returning to the Spleen Meridian, Stomach Meridian, and Liver Meridian.
7. Effect and Function
Relieve nodules, reduce swelling, and treat sores by attacking toxins. Belonging to the subcategory of clearing heat and detoxifying drugs.
8. Clinical application
Dosage: 0.9-1.2g, apply an appropriate amount externally, grind into powder, and mix with oil or vinegar to the affected area. Used to treat sores, swelling, toxins, breast abscess, scrofula, hemorrhoids, psoriasis, and alopecia.
9. Pharmacological research
Has cytotoxic effects.
10. Chemical composition
The seeds contain momordica saponins I and II, which exist in the form of carboxylate salts in the plant body. Momordica glycoproteins and momordica saponins belong to ribosome inactivating proteins. It also contains components such as α - spinach sterols, saponins from Turtles, Turtles acid, Turtles glycoprotein, and Oleanolic acid.
11. Usage taboos
Pregnant women and those with physical weakness should use with caution.
12. Compatibility prescription
① Treatment of hemorrhoids: equal parts of catnip, wood turtle seeds, and saltpeter. Boil the soup, put it in a bottle, smoke it, and wash it warm. (Pope Francis)
② Treating vaginal hernia with severe pain: Grind one wooden turtle seed with vinegar, mix yellow cypress and hibiscus powder and apply it. (Shouyu Divine Formula)
③ Treat various types of ringworm: divide Sichuan hibiscus bark, grass clippings, and wooden turtle seeds into equal parts. Fine powder on top, mixed with vinegar, apply and it will heal. (Straight Point Square)
④ Malaria treatment mother: wooden turtle seeds, pangolins (cannons), etc. Finally, take 9 grams per serving and let it sit under warm wine. (Medical Summary)
⑤ Treating wind tooth pain: Use wooden turtle seeds to remove the shell, grind it thinly, and adjust the affected area. (Pope Francis)
⊙ The content of the article is for clinical reference only. Non TCM professionals are not allowed to test drugs.