1. Alias
Cangzi, Hu Cangzi, Niu Lice, Canglang Seed, Canger Shi, Cangke Zi, Lao Cangzi.
2. Plant morphology
Annual herb, 30-90 cm tall, with rough stems and short hairs. Single leaves alternate, with long stalks, wide triangular leaves, sharp tips, heart-shaped base, with notches and irregular coarse serrations on the edges, dark green on the top and pale green on the bottom, rough or covered with short white hairs, and 3 prominent veins at the base. The inflorescence is nearly sessile, clustered, and monoecious; Male inflorescence spherical, bracts small, 1 row; The receptacle is cylindrical with scales; The small flower is tubular in shape, with 5 teeth at the top and 5 stamens. The anthers are almost separated and have inwardly folded appendages; The female inflorescence is ovate in shape, with 2-3 rows of bracts. The outer bracts are small and the inner bracts are large, forming an oval, 2-chamber hard body with barbed hairs on the outside and 2 conical tips on the top. There are 2 small flowers, no corolla, and the ovary is inside the bracts, with one in each chamber. The style is linear and protrudes outside the bracts. The achene is oblong in shape, enclosed in a prickly bracts, and lacks a crest. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from June to August.
3. Origin distribution
Born on barren slopes, grasslands, or roadsides. Distributed throughout the country.
4. Harvesting and processing
When the fruit is ripe from August to September, it should be picked and dried, or the whole plant should be cut and the fruit should be harvested, cleaned of impurities, and dried. Stir fry Cang Er Zi: Take clean Cang Er Zi and put it in a pot. Stir fry over low heat until the surface turns dark yellow and the aroma escapes. Remove and let it cool, remove the thorns, and sieve it clean.
5. Characteristics of medicinal herbs
Spindle shaped or elliptical, measuring 1-1.7 centimeters in length and 4-7 millimeters in diameter. The surface is yellow green, brownish green, or dark brown, with many spines about 2 millimeters long. There are two thick spikes at one end, separated or connected, with a tough outer shell (bracts) and two compartments inside, each containing one small achene. The achene is slightly spindle shaped, with one side relatively flat, the skin is gray black, and paper; A column base with a spike like protrusion at one end; The seed is light gray in color, with a membranous seed coat and two cotyledons inside. The embryonic root is located at the tip. The air is weak, the taste is slightly bitter, and it has an oily appearance. It is best to have large and plump grains with a yellow green color.
6. Sexual Taste Returning to the Classics
Warm in nature, spicy and bitter in taste. Return to the lung meridian.
7. Effect and Function
Relieve rheumatism, unblock nasal passages, and kill insects. The Xinwen Jiebiao medicine belongs to the classification of Jiebiao medicine. Pharmacological studies have shown that Cang Er Zi decoction has cough suppressing, blood glucose lowering, blood pressure lowering, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticoagulant effects.
8. Clinical application
Used for treating wind cold headache, nasal acid and runny nose, rubella itching, and damp stagnation. Oral administration, decoction, dosage 3-10 grams; Or into pill powder. For external use, boil and wash with water or grind and apply.
9. Pharmacological research
Antimicrobial resistance; Lowering blood sugar levels; Slow heart rate, weakened cardiac contractility, dilated blood vessels, and enhanced vascular permeability; The effect of antithrombin is to reduce the total number of white blood cells in peripheral blood and restore cholesterol and triglycerides to normal levels; Anti-inflammatory and analgesic; Inhibit cellular and humoral immune functions; Small doses enhance respiratory movement, while large doses inhibit respiratory movement; Antioxidant; Anti-cancer; Exciting the intestines and other functions. Toxicity: It can cause degeneration or necrosis of the liver, congestion and edema of the lungs and brain, and strong convulsions after poisoning.
10. Chemical composition
Contains 9.2% fatty oil, mainly composed of palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linolenic acid, wax alcohol, β - sitosterol, γ - sitosterol and β - sitosterol, lecithin, and phospholipids. In addition, it also contains leucine, phenylalanine, glycine, aspartic acid, as well as sugars, organic acids, etc.
11. Usage taboos
Do not take medication for virtual headache and numbness pain. Toxic, excessive dosage can cause poisoning. Mild cases may manifest as general fatigue, mental lethargy, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, followed by dizziness, headache, drowsiness or restlessness, increased or decreased heart rate, low-grade sweating, flushed cheeks, pale yellow or mild jaundice around the mouth and nose, and liver enlargement. In severe cases, coma, convulsions, shock, urinary obstruction, massive gastrointestinal bleeding, or pulmonary edema may occur, leading to respiratory, circulatory, or renal failure and death.
12. Compatibility prescription
① To treat dizziness caused by various winds or headaches: 90g of Cang'er Ren, 9g of Tianma, and 9g of Baihua. Take pills or powders according to the condition. (The Compendium of Materia Medica quotes Yang's formula)
② Treating nasal congestion and persistent runny nose: 15g of Xinyi Ren, 7.5g of Cang'er Zi, 30g of Xiangbai Zhi, and 1.5g of peppermint leaves. Top and dry to a fine powder. 6 grams per serving, use green onion and tea to take base note. ("Ji Sheng Fang" Cang'er San)
③ Treatment of scrotal eczema: 10 grams each of Fructus Xanthii, Fructus Cnidii, and Licorice. Boil with water until 1000mm thick, wash the scrotum externally, several times a day. (Compilation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations)
④ Treatment for dull eyes and tinnitus: 0.15 grams of Cang Er Zi. Mash it, use 2 liters of water, wring and filtering the juice, and cook Congee with 15 grams of japonica rice, or use it as a loose fried food. (Holy Benevolence Prescription Cangerzi Congee)
⑤ Treatment for abdominal edema and poor urination: divide the parts of Cang Er Zi gray and Ting Mi Zi into equal parts. Take 6 grams per dose, underwater, twice a day. (From "Qian Jin Yao Fang")
⊙ The content of the article is for clinical reference only. Non TCM professionals are not allowed to test drugs.