Introduction of Di Fu Zi:Belvedere Fruit or Fructus Kochiae.
✵The article gives records of the herb Belvedere Fruit, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad., 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 Belvedere Fruit, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Fructus Kochiae(Belvedere Fruit).
Pin Yin Name: Dì Fū Zǐ.
English Name: Belvedere Fruit.
Latin Name: Fructus Kochiae.
Property and flavor: cold, bitter.
Brief introduction: The herb Fructus Kochiae is the dried ripe fruit of Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad., used to clear damp-heat in cases of bladder damp-heat with stranguria, and to relieve the itch in cases of urticaria, eczema, and pruritus. The herb is commonly known as Fructus Kochiae, Belvedere Fruit, Dì Fū Zǐ.
Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Fructus Kochiae (Belvedere Fruit) as the dried ripe fruit of the species (1). Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. It is a plant of the Kochia genus, the Chenopodiaceae family (goosefoot family) of the Centrospermae order. This commonly used species is introduced:
(1).Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.
Botanical description: Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad is also known as Chenopodium scoparium L., is commonly known as Kochia scoparia, or Dì Fū. An annual herb, the plant grows up to 50~150 cm tall. The root is fusiform (spindle-shaped). Stem is upright, many-branched, terete, pea green (pale green) or light red, most ribbed, and pubescent. Leaves are alternate, sessile, leaf blades are narrow-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 2~7 cm long, 3~7 mm wide, the apex is shortly acuminate, the base is cuneate (wedge-shaped) and tapering to stipitate, entire, the upper surface is green and glabrous, the undersurface is pale green, glabrous or pubescent; usually has 3 main veins; leaves on the upper part of the stem are smaller, have 1 mid-vein.
Flowers are solitary, or 2 flowers grow in leaf axils, accumulate to sparse spica; sometimes there are rust-colored long pilose under flowers; flowers are small, hermaphroditic or female; yellowish green, 5 tapels (perianth lobes), subsphaeroidal (subglobular), base connate, back surface grow out triangular transversal protrusions or wings in fruiting phase, sometimes are fan (fan-shaped); 5 stamens, filaments are filiform (threadlike); style is very short, 2 stigmas, filiform.
Utricles are oblate, the pericarp is membranous, free from seed, and is wrapped inside the perianth. Seeds are ovate or oblate, 1 seed, black-brown (dark brown), 1.5~2 mm long, slightly lustrous. Its flowering period is from June to September, the fruiting period is from August to October.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in the wilderness, the edge of the field, and roadsides, and is also planted in gardens. It was native to Europe, central and southern Asia. The plant is distributed in Asia, Europe. It is also distributed in Africa, Siberia, ussuri, zeea-brea.
Growth characteristics: The plant Kochia scoparia prefers a warm and moist climate, has strong adaptability, is tolerant to drought, and prefers sunlights. Its soil requirement is not strict, but more resistant to alkaline soil. Fertile, loose, humus-rich loam is appropriate for the exuberant growth of Kochia scoparia. It is appropriate to choose sunny fields with loam soil rich in humus and good drainage for cultivation.
Characters of herbs: The utricle of the herb is an oblate pentacle, 1~3 mm in diameter, covered by a persistent perianth. The surface is celadon (grayish-green) or pale brown, with 5 triangular membranous winglets around it, protruding punctate fruit stalk marks, and 5~10 radial veins in the center of the back. After the perianth is stripped off, the membranous pericarp is visible, which is translucent. Seeds are flattened ovate, about 1 mm long, and black. The herb is odorless and tastes slightly bitter. The herb of a better grade is full and celadon (grayish-green).
Pharmacological actions: ①.inhibitory effect on various dermatophytes; ②.prompt diuresis; ③.inhibit the mononuclear phagocyte function; ④.anti-inflammatory effect.
Medicinal efficacy: Clearing heat and remove dampness through diuresis, clearing heat and dampness, prompt diuresis, dispel the wind and relieve itching. It is indicated for difficulty and pain in micturition (difficulty in urination and painful urination), difficult urination, pruritus vulvae, leukorrhea, gonorrhea, dripping turbidities, bloody flux (bloody dysentery, dysentery with bloody stool), hernia, rubella (urticaria), sore poison, eczema, scabies, pruritus (itch of skin), wet and itchy at genital region.
Administration of Fructus Kochiae (Dì Fū Zǐ):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Fructus Kochiae (Dì Fū Zǐ)
TCM Books:
①.Internally: 9~15 grams.Externally:proper amount,fumigation wash with water decoction; ②.Internally:water decoction, 2~5 qian (about 6~15 grams), or prepare to pill,powder.Externally:wash with water decoction; ③.Internally:water decoction, 6~15 grams,or prepared to pill, powder.Externally:proper amount,wash with water decoction.
Precautions and Adverse Reactions: should not combine the herb Fructus Kochiae with Ootheca Mantidis.
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1.Introduction of Di Fu Zi:Belvedere Fruit or Fructus Kochiae.
✵The article gives records of the herb Belvedere Fruit, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad., 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 Belvedere Fruit, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Dì Fū Zǐ.
Botanical description: Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad is also known as Chenopodium scoparium L., is commonly known as Kochia scoparia, or Dì Fū. An annual herb, the plant grows up to 50~150 cm tall. The root is fusiform (spindle-shaped). Stem is upright, many-branched, terete, pea green (pale green) or light red, most ribbed, and pubescent. Leaves are alternate, sessile, leaf blades are narrow-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 2~7 cm long, 3~7 mm wide, the apex is shortly acuminate, the base is cuneate (wedge-shaped) and tapering to stipitate, entire, the upper surface is green and glabrous, the undersurface is pale green, glabrous or pubescent; usually has 3 main veins; leaves on the upper part of the stem are smaller, have 1 mid-vein.
Flowers are solitary, or 2 flowers grow in leaf axils, accumulate to sparse spica; sometimes there are rust-colored long pilose under flowers; flowers are small, hermaphroditic or female; yellowish green, 5 tapels (perianth lobes), subsphaeroidal (subglobular), base connate, back surface grow out triangular transversal protrusions or wings in fruiting phase, sometimes are fan (fan-shaped); 5 stamens, filaments are filiform (threadlike); style is very short, 2 stigmas, filiform.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in the wilderness, the edge of the field, and roadsides, and is also planted in gardens. It was native to Europe, central and southern Asia. The plant is distributed in Asia, Europe. It is also distributed in Africa, Siberia, ussuri, zeea-brea.
Characters of herbs: The utricle of the herb is an oblate pentacle, 1~3 mm in diameter, covered by a persistent perianth. The surface is celadon (grayish-green) or pale brown, with 5 triangular membranous winglets around it, protruding punctate fruit stalk marks, and 5~10 radial veins in the center of the back. After the perianth is stripped off, the membranous pericarp is visible, which is translucent. Seeds are flattened ovate, about 1 mm long, and black. The herb is odorless and tastes slightly bitter. The herb of a better grade is full and celadon (grayish-green).
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