What are the medicinal effects and functions of southern candle leaves

The leaves of the Candlewood Tree are also called the Black Rice Tree. They are generally used in therapeutic formulas of traditional Chinese medicine and may be less common in the diet. Candlewood leaves have a good effect on the human body. They can effectively relieve cough, calm the nerves, and improve eyesight. The dosage needs to be arranged by a doctor and should not be used on your own.

[Source] New Edition of Materia Medica

【Pinyin name】Nán ZhúYè

[Alias] Branches and leaves of Candlewood tree (Kaibao Materia Medica).

[Source] The leaves of the black rice tree, a plant of the Ericaceae family. Harvest from August to September, pick out twigs and impurities, and dry in the sun. Store in a dry place.

[Habitat distribution] Produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other places.

[Properties] The dried leaves are oblong to lanceolate, with sharp ends and sparsely serrated edges, mostly curled back to the back, 2 to 6 cm long and 1 to 2.5 cm wide; leathery and shiny, dark brown on the upper side with a sunken main vein, brown on the lower side with the main and lateral veins prominently protruding; the leaves have short petioles and mostly bend backwards. Crisp texture. The smell is weak and the taste is astringent and bitter.

[Chemical composition] Contains hexadecane, terpenoids, epiterpenoid alcohol, quercetin, isoorientin, p-hydroxycinnamic acid, and meso-inositol.

【Nature and flavor】

Sour, flat.

① "Kaibao Materia Medica": bitter, flat, non-toxic.

② "Compendium of Materia Medica": sour and astringent.

[return through meridians] "Bencao Jingshu": enters the heart, spleen and kidney meridians.

【Function and indications】

It improves the essence and qi, strengthens the muscles and bones, improves eyesight, and stops diarrhea.

① "Bencao Shiyi": Stops diarrhea and eliminates sleep, strengthens muscles and increases energy.

② "Bencao Gangmu" (Bencao Gangmu): It benefits the intestines and stomach. Mash the juice, soak it in steam, and then dry it for consumption.

③"Compendium of Materia Medica": Replenishes Qi and essence, cools blood and nourishes tendons.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use; decoct in water, 2 to 3 qian; make into paste or make into pills or powder.

【Additional prescription】

① Treat all wind diseases, long-term use can improve eyesight: 5 catties of Candlewood tree (twigs and leaves in spring and summer, roots and bark in autumn and winter, pick and finely file). With five buckets of water. Slowly simmer and take out two dou of it, remove the dregs, put it in a clean pot, and simmer it slowly until it becomes like thin sugar, then put it in a porcelain bottle. For each dose, take - teaspoon with warm wine, three times a day. (Nanzhu Decoction from Shenghuifang)

② Boost yang and replenish yin, turn white hair into black: Collect young leaves of Fuzhu in spring, about 20 kilograms. Use a steamer to steam it in a rice cooker, and dry it until it is ground into powder (those dried in the shade are useless). To about one catty of Candlewood leaf powder, add one catty of mulberry leaves, two catties of Rehmannia glutinosa, one catty of Cornus officinalis, one catty of Ginkgo biloba, three ounces of Sichuan pepper, and two catties of Atractylodes macrocephala; grind it into powder and make pills with honey. Take one or two grams of it with boiled water every morning. (New Compendium of Materia Medica)

③ Nanzhu, together with Eclipta prostrata, Gallic acid seeds, Rehmannia root, mulberry, wolfberry, Cornus officinalis, Polygonum multiflorum and Tribulus terrestris, is a holy medicine for blackening hair. It has a mild smell and is non-toxic. It has no other use except whitening. (Compendium of Materia Medica)