1. Alias
Tianshengzi, Wenxianguo, and Naiberry.
2. Plant morphology
Deciduous shrubs or small trees. Having milk. Multiple branches, sturdy small branches, brown surface, covered with sparse short hairs. Leaves alternate, ovate or nearly circular in shape, roughly equal in width and length, 3-5 lobed, rarely non lobed, base heart-shaped, lobes ovate, apex blunt, with irregular fine teeth; Obvious palmar veins; The upper surface is rough and the lower surface is hairy; Thick leather texture. Hidden inflorescence solitary in leaf axils, pear shaped, with green or bluish brown color when mature. Flowers are monoecious and of the same plant, with small white flowers that are extremely numerous; Male flowers grow between the bracts near the opening of the receptacle, with 2-6 linear corollas and 1 filamentous stamen; The female flower has 4 petals and a wide oval shape. The achene is triangular ovate in shape. The flowering period is summer, and the mature period of the hidden fruit is autumn.
3. Origin distribution
It is often cultivated in warm and sunny corners and crevices, and distributed throughout the country.
4. Harvesting and processing
When the fruits turn green from July to October, they should be picked in batches or immature fruits that have fallen to the ground. The fresh fruits should be boiled in hot water and dried in the sun or oven.
5. Characteristics of medicinal herbs
Inverted conical or spherical in shape, approximately 2 centimeters in length and 1.5-2.5 centimeters in diameter. The surface is light yellow brown to dark brown, greenish black, with wavy and curved longitudinal ridges, slightly flattened at the top, circular protrusions in the center, narrow at the base, with fruit stalks and residual bracts. Hard in texture, yellow white in cross-section, with numerous small achenes growing on the inner wall, and sometimes withered male flowers visible on the upper part. The achene is ovate or triangular ovate, light yellow, and covered with a persistent calyx. Mild aroma, sweet taste.
6. Sexual Taste Returning to the Classics
Flat in nature, sweet in taste. Return to the lung meridian, stomach meridian, and colon meridian.
7. Effect and Function
Healthy stomach, clear intestines, reduce swelling and detoxify. Belonging to the subcategory of clearing heat and detoxifying drugs.
8. Clinical application
Take 50-100 grams of decoction orally, used to treat enteritis, dysentery, constipation, hemorrhoids, sore throat, and scabies. Apply an appropriate amount topically, boil and wash the affected area with water, or grind and blow into the throat.
9. Pharmacological research
Petroleum ether and ether extracts have antihypertensive effects on rabbits, cats, and dogs. Milk contains anti-tumor components that can enhance immune function.
10. Chemical composition
Contains various organic acids such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, citric acid, and small amounts of fumaric acid, citric acid, shikimic acid, succinic acid, as well as components such as lutein and ficin enzyme.
11. Usage taboos
People with spleen and stomach deficiency and cold should take it with caution.
12. Compatibility prescription
① Treatment for sore throat: 7 figs and 15 grams of honeysuckle. Boil it in water. (Shandong Herbal Medicine Handbook)
② Treating lung heat and hoarseness: 15g dried fig fruit. Boil in water and take with rock sugar. (Fujian Chinese Herbal Medicine)
③ To treat dry cough and persistent cough: 9g figs, 15g raisins, and 6g licorice. Boil it in water. (Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Xinjiang)
④ Treating constipation: Take an appropriate amount of fresh figs, chew them or crush dried fruits and fry them in soup. Add an appropriate amount of raw honey and take it warm on an empty stomach. (Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine)
⑤ Treating persistent diarrhea: 5-7 figs. Boil it in water. (Hunan Pharmaceutical Journal)
⊙ The content of the article is for clinical reference only. Non TCM professionals are not allowed to test drugs.