Introduction of Ai Ye:Argyi Leaf,Argyi Wormwood Leaf or Folium Artemisiae Argyi.
✵The article gives records of the herb Argyi Leaf, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Artemisia argyi Lévl.et Vant., 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 Argyi Leaf, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: ài Yè.
English Name: Argyi Leaf,Argyi Wormwood Leaf.
Latin Name: Folium Artemisiae Argyi.
Property and flavor: warm, pungent, bitter.
Brief introduction: The herb Folium Artemisiae Argyi is the dried leaf of Artemisia argyi Lévl.et Vant., used to warm the uterus and stop bleeding in cases of functional uterine bleeding, sterility, and dysmenorrhea. The herb is commonly known as Argy Wormwood Leaf, Ai Ye, Aiye, Argyi Leaf, Chinese mugwort leaf, Folium Artemisiae Argyi, Artemesia, Artemisia leaf, Artemisiae Argyi Folium, Chinese mugwort leaf, dried leaf of artemisia, or ài Yè.
Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Folium Artemisiae Argyi (Argyi Leaf, Argyi Wormwood Leaf) as the dried leaf of (1). Artemisia argyi Lévl.et Vant. It is a plant of the Artemisia Linn. Genus, the Asteraceae family (Compositae, daisy family), Campanulales order. This commonly used species is introduced:
(1).Artemisia argyi Lévl.et Vant.
Botanical description: Artemisia argyi Lévl.et Vant is also known as A. argyi Lévl. et Vant.var.incana Pamp., is commonly known as ài, or ài Hāo. A perennial herb, the plant is strongly aromatic and grows up to 50~120 cm high. Taproots are conspicuous, slightly stout, and up to 1.5 cm in diameter, lateral roots are many; underground rhizomes and vegetative branches are often recumbent. The whole plant is densely covered with white fuzz. Leaves are alternate, leaves on the lower part wither during the flowering period; leaves in the middle part are ovate-triangular or elliptic, 6~9 cm long, 4~8 cm wide, the base is rapidly narrowing or gradually narrowing to short and slightly longer petiole, or slightly enlarged to stipulaeform; leaf blades are pinnate or lobed, lateral lobes are in about 2 pairs, often cuneate, middle lobes are often trilobate again, edge of lobes is serrate, the upper surface is covered with arachnoid hairs, has white dense or sparse glandular spots, the under surface is covered with white or gray dense fuzz; leaves on the upper part gradually turn smaller, trilobate or undivided, sessile.
Capitula (flower heads) are many, arrange to compound inflorescence, about 3 mm long, 2~3 mm in diameter, declinate after the flowering period; general involucre is oval (egg-shaped); involucral bracts are in 4~5 layers, edge is membraneous, the back surface is covered with woolly hairs (tomentose); flowers are reddish, many, flowers in the out layer are female, flowers in the inner layer are hermaphroditic.
Achenes are often nearly 1 mm, glabrous. Its flowering period is from July to October.
Ecological environment: The plant is found in wasteland, forest edges, roadsides, rivers, and hillsides from low to medium elevations. It is also found in forest-steppe and grassland areas. The plant is widely distributed in China, in addition to the extremely dry and cold areas, almost throughout China. The plant is also distributed in the northern area of Asia and Siberia.
Growth characteristics: The plant Artemisia argyi prefers a warm and moist climate, it is tolerant of drought and shade. It is appropriate to choose a field with loose, fertile, and humus-rich loam for cultivation. The plant is easy to reproduce and grow and has strong adaptability to climate and soil. It is better to grow in moist and fertile soil. Artificial cultivation is easy in hilly and low-mountain areas; the temperature suitable for growth is 24~30 °C (Celsius, or 75.2~86 degrees Fahrenheit), when the temperature is higher than 30 °C (Celsius, or 86 degrees Fahrenheit), the stem is easily aging, the branch is pumping, diseases, and insect pests increase. When the temperature in winter is lower than -3 °C (Celsius, or 26.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the perennial roots do not grow well.
Characters of herbs: The leaves of the herb are mostly shriveled and broken and have short stalks. After flattening, the intact leaves are ovate-elliptic, and pinnately parted, the lobes are elliptic-lanceolate, the edges are irregular coarsely serrate, the upper surface is celadon (sage green, or grayish-green) or deep yellowish green, has sparse pilose and glandular spots, and the undersurface is densely covered with ash gray (grayish white) fluff. The texture of the herb is soft, and it has a faint scent and a bitter taste.
The herb of a better grade has thick leaves, is cyan (aquamarine blue), the undersurface is ash gray (grayish white), has many fluffs, the texture is soft and has a strong aromatic fragrance.
Pharmacological actions: ①.antiasthmatic, antitussive, expectorant effects; ②.shorten the coagulation time; ③.inhibit platelet aggregation; ④.anti-allergy effect; ⑤.cardiac stimulant, choleric and other effects, etc.
Medicinal efficacy: Regulate Qi and blood, dispel cold and dampness, warming meridians, hemostasis (stanch bleeding), miscarriage prevention, disperse cold and relieve pain, clearing damp and relieve itching. It is indicated for the treatment of abdominal cold pain, diarrhea and spasm or convulsion, protracted dysentery, choleraic myospasm, hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis, hematochezia, hemafecia (blood in the stool), irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding, morbid leukorrhea, bleeding in pregnancy, threatened abortion, dysmenorrhea (abdominal pain in menses), eczema, carbuncle, hemorrhoids, scabies, etc.
Administration of Folium Artemisiae Argyi (ài Yè):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Folium Artemisiae Argyi (ài Yè)
TCM Books:
①.Internally:water decoction,1~3 qian (about 3~9 grams), or prepare to pill, powder. Externally:mashed into fine hair and moxa stick for moxibustion practice, mashed and apply stick, fumigation wash with water decoction, or fried and iron warmly; ②.Internally:water decoction, 3~10 grams, or prepared to pill, powder, or extract juice. Externally:proper amount, mashed into fine hair and moxa stick for moxibustion practice, mashed and apply stick, fumigation wash with water decoction, or fried and iron warmly.
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References:
1.Introduction of Ai Ye:Argyi Leaf,Argyi Wormwood Leaf or Folium Artemisiae Argyi.