Introduction of Ji Gu Cao:Canton Love-pea Vine or Herba Abri.

TCM Herbalism:Medicinals and Classifications. ✵The article gives records of the herb Canton Love-pea Vine, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Abrus cantoniensis Hance, with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Canton Love-pea Vine, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Herba Abri(Canton Love-pea Vine).

two small plants of Abrus cantoniensis Hance grow in field Pin Yin Name: Jī Gǔ Cǎo.
 English Name: Canton Love-pea Vine.
 Latin Name: Herba Abri.
 Property and flavor: slightly bitter, cool, sweet.

 Brief introduction: The Herb Herba Abri is the dried entire plant of Abrus cantoniensis Hance, used to clear heat, remove damp, soothe the liver and alleviate pain for treating hepatitis and epigastric pain. The herb is commonly known as Herba Abri, Canton Love-pea Vine, Jī Gǔ Cǎo.

 Botanical source: Common herbal classics defined the herb Herba Abri (Canton Love-pea Vine) as the dried entire plant of species (1). Abrus cantoniensis Hance, it is a plant of the Abrus. Genus, the Leguminosae family (Fabaceae, legume, pea family) of the Rosales order. This commonly used species is introduced:

(1).Abrus cantoniensis Hance.


 growing plants of Abrus cantoniensis Hance with pods Botanical description: Abrus cantoniensis Hance is also known as Abrus fruticulosus Wall.ex Wight et Arn. (A. fruticulosus Wall.ex Wight et Arn.), it is commonly known as Guang Dong Xiang Si Zi or Canton Love-pea Vine. Climbing shrubs, the plant grows up to 1 meter long; branchlets and petioles are covered with coarse hairs. Taproot is stout, up to 60 cm long. The stem is thin, deep reddish purple, young part is densely covered with tawny hairs; paripinnate compound leaves; leaflets (lobules) are in 7~12 pairs, obovate or oblong, 5~12 mm long, 3~5 mm wide, the apex is truncate with small awn tips, the base is shallowly cordate, the upper surface is sparsely hirsute, the undersurface is covered with clingy hirsute, veinlets protruding on both surfaces; stipules (peraphyllum) are opposite and grow inserted.

 Racemes are short, axillary; flowers are about 6 mm long; the calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped); corolla is protruding, faint red (pale red); 9 stamens grow into a tubular shape, clingy with the vexilla, separated at the upper end; the ovary is subsessile, style is short.

 Legumes (pods) are oblong, oblate, and sparsely piliferous, contain 4~5 seeds. Seeds are oblong, oblate, brown-black, strophiole is conspicuous, cerinus (waxy yellow), the center part is poriferous, margin has 1 oblong ring, the umbilicus is brown acicular (aciform), close to the margin of the pod. Its flowering period is in August, and the fruiting period is from September to October.

  dried curled herbs of Canton Love-pea Vine Ecological environment: The plant grows on the edge of the mountain or in wild bushes. Resource distribution: The plant is mainly distributed in the Zhujiang River area, and other areas of China.

 Growth characteristics: The plant grows in the mountains or wild bushes and forest edge. It prefers a warm and moist climate, is afraid of cold, and drought resistant, avoid water logging. The loose, fertile loam, sandy loam, light clay, pH (pH scale:acidity-basicity) 5~6.5 environment is suitable for its growth.

 dried herb pieces and segments of Canton Love-pea Vine Characters of herbs: The herb is a whole plant with roots, and it is often twisted into bundles. The roots are mostly cylindrical or conical, with branches, different in length and thickness, thick at the top and thin at the bottom, 3-15 mm in diameter; the surface is taupe brown (gray-brown), has fine vertical lines, the branch roots are extremely fine, some are broken or have residues, the texture of the herb is hard. The rhizome is short and nodular. The stems are clustered, rattan-shaped, 50~100 cm long, and 1.5~2.5 mm in diameter; the surface is taupe (dust color) to purple-brown, and the branchlets (ramellus twigs) are slender and fine, the branchlets are red brown and sparsely covered with short fluff; paripinnate compound leaves, with 8~11 pairs of leaflets, most of them shedding, leaflets are oblong, 8~12 mm in length, the apex is truncated, with a small protruding cusp, and the undersurface is covered with hairs. The herb has a slightly fragrant aroma, and it tastes slightly bitter. The herb of a better grade has thick roots, with intact stems and leaves.

 Pharmacological actions: ①. Influence on intestinal smooth muscle; ②. Enhance the swimming endurance of mice; ③. Other effects: Crude saponins of Herba Abri have significant protective effect on liver injury caused by CCl4.

 Medicinal efficacy: Clearing heat and eliminate dampness, dispersing stasis and relieving pain. It is indicated for jaundice hepatitis, stomachache, rheumatic bone pain, bruising pain, breast pain, etc.

 Administration of Herba Abri (Jī Gǔ Cǎo): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Herba Abri (Jī Gǔ Cǎo)
TCM Books: ①.Internally:15~30 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 3~5 qian (about 9~15 grams), or prepare to pill,powder.Externally:mashed and apply stick; ③.Internally:water decoction, 15~30 grams, or prepared to pill, powder.Externally:proper amount,mashed and apply stick.
 Contraindications,Precautions and Adverse Reactions: the seeds are poisonous, could not be used,the pods should be removed completely before using as a herb. The herb Herba Abri should be used cautiously in conditions deficiency cold and physical weakness.

 

 
  

 

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References:
  • 1.Introduction of Ji Gu Cao:Canton Love-pea Vine or Herba Abri.

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