✵The article records the herb Mulberry Twig, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, property and flavor, botanical source—namely, the plant species Morus alba L.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species; the characteristics of the herb Mulberry Twig; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Ramulus Mori (Mulberry Twig)
Pinyin Name: Sānɡ Zhī
English Name: Mulberry Twig
Latin Name:Ramulus Mori Property and Flavor: Neutral in nature, bitter
Brief Introduction: The herb Ramulus Mori is the dried young twig of Morus alba L., used as an antirheumatic to treat arthralgia and shoulder pain.
Botanical Source: The herb Ramulus Mori (Mulberry Twig) is the dried young twig of Morus alba L., a plant of the genus Morus, family Moraceae (mulberry or fig family), order Rosales. The herb is commonly known as Ramulus Mori, Mulberry Twig, or Sānɡ Zhī. This commonly used species is introduced:
(1) Morus alba L.
Botanical Description:Morus alba L. is commonly known as mulberry tree, white mulberry, or sang shu. The plant is a deciduous shrub or small tree, growing up to 3–15 meters in height. The bark is gray-white with striped lobes; the root bark is yellowish-brown or reddish-yellow and strongly fibrous. Leaves are simple and alternate; petioles are 1–2.5 cm long; leaf blades are ovate to broadly ovate, 5–20 cm long and 4–10 cm wide; the apex is acute or acuminate; the base is rounded or nearly cordate; margins are coarsely serrate or crenate, sometimes with irregular lobes; the upper surface is glabrous and glossy; the lower surface bears short hairs along the veins, is pilose in the leaf axils, and has three basal veins that branch into reticulate venation—prominent on the lower surface; stipules are lanceolate and caducous.
Flowers are unisexual and dioecious. Male and female inflorescences are arranged in axillary, spicate catkins. Female inflorescences are 1–2 cm long, pubescent, with peduncles 5–10 mm long. Male inflorescences are 1–2.5 cm long, pendulous, and slightly puberulent. Staminate flowers have four perianth lobes and four stamens, with a sterile stamen at the center. Pistillate flowers have four perianth lobes, connate at the base, and a bilobed stigma.
Achenes are numerous and densely clustered into ovoid or oblong aggregate fruits, 1–2.5 cm long. Immature fruits are green; upon maturity, they gradually become pulpy and turn blackish-purple or red. Seeds are small. Flowering occurs from April to May; fruiting occurs from May to June.
Ecological Environment: Mulberry trees grow on mountain slopes, hills, and fields around villages; they are predominantly cultivated.
Growth Characteristics: Mulberry trees prefer a warm, humid climate and are slightly shade-tolerant. Germination begins when temperatures exceed 12 °C (53.6 °F); optimal growth occurs at 25–30 °C (77–86 °F); growth is inhibited above 40 °C (104 °F) and ceases below 12 °C (53.6 °F). The species is drought-tolerant and arid-tolerant but intolerant of waterlogging. It exhibits strong soil adaptability.
Characteristics of the Herb: Fresh shoots and twigs are long-cylindrical, sparsely branched, variable in length, and 0.5–1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is sallow (grayish-yellow) or tawny (yellowish-brown), bearing numerous tawny, punctate lenticels and fine longitudinal striations; grayish-white, slightly semicircular leaf scars; and yellowish-brown axillary buds. The herb is firm and tough, not easily broken; the fracture surface is fibrous. Slices are 0.2–0.5 cm thick; the cortex (bark) is thin; the xylem (wood) is yellowish-white with radial rays; the pith is white or yellowish-white. The herb has a faint odor and a mild taste.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) anti-inflammatory; (2) antihypertensive; (3) notable effect on promoting hair growth in rabbits and sheep; (4) morin exhibits diuretic, spasmolytic, and antimicrobial activities, and demonstrates potent anticancer effects.
Medicinal efficacy: Expels wind and dampness, unblocks meridians and collaterals, benefits joints, and promotes the circulation of water and Qi. Indicated for numbness and pain in the shoulder, arm, and joints; wind-cold-damp bi syndrome with fixed pain; muscular contracture of limbs; apoplexy (paralytic stroke) and hemiplegia; beriberi and edema; and pruritus of the body and muscles.
Administration of Ramulus Mori (Sānɡ Zhī):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Ramulus Mori (Sānɡ Zhī)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 9–15 grams; (2) Internally:water decoction, 1–2 liang (≈30–60 grams), or prepared as a paste; external use: fumigation and wash with decoction. (3) Internally:water decoction, 15–30 grams; external use: appropriate amount, fumigation and wash with decoction.
✵The article records the herb Mulberry Twig, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, property and flavor, botanical source—namely, the plant species Morus alba L.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species; the characteristics of the herb Mulberry Twig; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Sānɡ Zhī
Botanical Description: Morus alba L. is commonly known as mulberry tree, white mulberry, or sang shu. The plant is a deciduous shrub or small tree, growing up to 3–15 meters in height. The bark is gray-white with striped lobes; the root bark is yellowish-brown or reddish-yellow and strongly fibrous. Leaves are simple and alternate; petioles are 1–2.5 cm long; leaf blades are ovate to broadly ovate, 5–20 cm long and 4–10 cm wide; the apex is acute or acuminate; the base is rounded or nearly cordate; margins are coarsely serrate or crenate, sometimes with irregular lobes; the upper surface is glabrous and glossy; the lower surface bears short hairs along the veins, is pilose in the leaf axils, and has three basal veins that branch into reticulate venation—prominent on the lower surface; stipules are lanceolate and caducous.
Flowers are unisexual and dioecious. Male and female inflorescences are arranged in axillary, spicate catkins. Female inflorescences are 1–2 cm long, pubescent, with peduncles 5–10 mm long. Male inflorescences are 1–2.5 cm long, pendulous, and slightly puberulent. Staminate flowers have four perianth lobes and four stamens, with a sterile stamen at the center. Pistillate flowers have four perianth lobes, connate at the base, and a bilobed stigma.
Characteristics of the Herb: Fresh shoots and twigs are long-cylindrical, sparsely branched, variable in length, and 0.5–1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is sallow (grayish-yellow) or tawny (yellowish-brown), bearing numerous tawny, punctate lenticels and fine longitudinal striations; grayish-white, slightly semicircular leaf scars; and yellowish-brown axillary buds. The herb is firm and tough, not easily broken; the fracture surface is fibrous. Slices are 0.2–0.5 cm thick; the cortex (bark) is thin; the xylem (wood) is yellowish-white with radial rays; the pith is white or yellowish-white. The herb has a faint odor and a mild taste.
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