Benefits of Soap Tree

There are many things in our lives that have very similar names, but their effects are very different. For example, the soap tree and the soapberry tree have similar names, but their effects are very different. The soap tree is a common Chinese medicinal material that is very helpful in stopping bleeding and is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. In addition to these, the soap tree has many other benefits. Let's take a look at them together.

【Pinyin name】Yā Jiǎo Mù Pí.

【English Name】Bark of Ivy Tree, Bark of Common Schefflera, Ivy Tree Bark.

[Alias] Sicca bark, duck's foot bark, duck's foot wood, duck's foot umbrella, nine-section cattle, small-leaved duck's foot wood, Han peach tree, seven-leaf lotus, Jiangmu mother, foot mother tree, duck muggle, duck mother has.

[Source] Medicinal material source: the root bark and stem bark of Schefflera arborvitae of the Araliaceae family.

Latin plant, animal and mineral name: Scheffleraoctophylla (Lour.) Harms [Aralia octophylla Lour. ]

Harvesting and Storage: Roots and root bark can be harvested throughout the year. Wash the roots, slice them, and dry them in the sun; wash the root bark, steam it thoroughly, slice it, and dry it in the sun.

[Original form] Evergreen tree or large shrub, 2-15m high, with a breast diameter of more than 30cm. The bark is grayish white, the branches are thick and usually wrinkled, and are densely covered with star-shaped short hairs when young, which soon fall off and become sparse. Palmate compound leaves are alternate, with 6-9 leaflets; petioles are slender, cylindrical, 15-30cm long, petiolules are 2-5cm long; stipules are semicircular. The leaflets are leathery or papery, elliptic, oblong or ovate-elliptic, 9-17cm long, 3-5cm wide, with acute or short acuminate apex, rarely rounded, base broadly cuneate or nearly rounded, entire; dark green above, grayish white below, covered with stellate short soft hairs when young, which gradually fall off later; 7-10 pairs of lateral veins, reticulate veins not obvious. The inflorescence is an umbel that gathers into a large panicle at the end, initially densely covered with stellate short soft hairs, which then gradually fall off; the calyx is sparsely covered with stellate short soft hairs to glabrous, with 5-6 fine teeth on the edge; the petals are 5, fleshy, recurved after flowering, 2-3mm long, white, and fragrant; the stamens are 5, longer than the petals; the ovary is inferior, with 5-7 chambers, and the styles are fused into a thick and short column, about 0.5mm long. The berries are spherical, about 5mm in diameter, and dark purple when ripe. The flowering period is from November to December, and the fruiting period is January of the following year.

[Habitat distribution]Ecological environment: Grown in evergreen broad-leaved forests or sunny hillsides.

Resource distribution: Distributed in Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan and other places.

[Cultivation] Biological characteristics: It likes warm, humid and semi-shady environment, is slightly resistant to barrenness, and can also grow on sunny slopes. It is not very demanding on soil.

Cultivation techniques, propagation by seeds. Sowing is carried out in spring from January to February, the germination temperature is 21-24℃, the seedlings grow rapidly, and when the seedlings are 5-7cm tall, they are transplanted once and can be planted the following year.

Field management: Generally, semi-shade is preferred in summer, sunlight is needed in autumn and winter, and the temperature above 5°C is required for wintering.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The bark is in the shape of a roll or irregular plate, 30-50cm long and 2-8mm thick. The outer surface is grayish white or dark gray, rough, often with lichen spots, and has circular or transversely oblong lenticels. The inner surface is grayish yellow or grayish brown with fine longitudinal lines. It is brittle, easy to break, has an uneven cross section and is fibrous. It has a slight fragrance and tastes bitter and astringent. The ones with thin, uniform and rolled skin are the best.

[Chemical composition] The stem bark contains oleanolic acid and 3α-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene-23,28-dioic acid [1].

[Pharmacological action] The decoction has an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using the flat paper method.

【Nature and flavor】Pungent; bitter; cool in nature.

【Functions and indications】Induces sweat and relieves exterior symptoms; dispels wind and dampness; relaxes muscles and activates collaterals. It is mainly used to treat colds, fever, sore throat, burns, unknown swelling, rheumatism, bruises and fractures.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 9-15g; or soak in wine. For external use: take appropriate amount, decoct in water for washing; or mash and apply on the affected area.

【Note】 "Common Chinese Herbal Medicines for Folks in Guangxi": "People with cold deficiency and pregnant women should not take it."

[Additional prescription] ① Bone-setting prescription: 6 liang of raw duckfoot wood bark, 4 liang of raw plow leaf, 4 liang of raw banyan wood leaves, and a rooster. Mash them together, stir-fry with two kinds of wine, and apply to the affected area. Remove the medicine after 24 hours, and stir-fry with more wine and apply to the affected area. (Luchuan Materia Medica)②Treat red and white dysentery: remove the skin of Schefflera australis, wash it, steam it and dry it in the sun, use 4 liang of it, and decoct it in water. (Lingnan Herbal Medicine) ③ Treat rheumatism and bone pain: 6 liang of Schefflera bark, soak in 1 jin of wine. Take twice a day, 50 cents to 100 cents each time. (Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine)

[Discussions by various scholars] 1. Essentials of Raw Medicinal Herbs: Root bark: treat alcohol-related illness, wash rotten feet, apply to bruises, steam ten times and dry nine times in the sun, soak in wine to dispel wind.

2. "Records of Medicinal Herbs in Lingnan" says: It can be used to treat scurvy and sha poison by decocting it in water and drinking it.

3. "Luchuan Materia Medica": Bone marrow can stop bleeding, reduce swelling and relieve pain. Treat rheumatic bone pain, fractures due to falls, swelling and pain due to injuries, and bleeding from knife wounds.

4. "Lingnan Herbal Medicine": It removes dampness, relaxes muscles and activates collaterals, and clears away alcohol and dampness from the stomach and intestines.

5. Guangzhou Army's "Handbook of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines": Induces sweat and relieves exterior symptoms, dispels wind and dampness. Treat influenza fever, sore throat, rheumatic bone pain, and swelling and pain caused by falls and blood stasis.

6. "Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine": promotes blood circulation, removes blood stasis, and clears away heat. Treat rheumatism, bruises, and burns.