Introduction of Ge Gen:Radix Puerariae or Kudzuvine Root.
✵The article gives records of the herb Kudzuvine Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source 2 plant species, ①.Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, ②.Pueraria thomsonii Benth., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these two plants, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these two plants, the features of the herb Kudzuvine Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Radix Puerariae(Kudzuvine Root).
Pin Yin Name: Gě Gēn.
English Name: Kudzuvine Root, Lobed Kudzuvine Root.
Latin Name: Radix Puerariae.
Property and flavor: cool, pungent, sweet.
Brief introduction: The herb Radix Puerariae is the dried root of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, or Pueraria thomsonii Benth., used (1).to reduce heat in cases of exterior syndrome with fever and painful stiffness of the back and nape, (2).to relieve thirst in febrile diseases and diabetes mellitus, (3).to relieve diarrhea in spleen insufficiency, and (4).to promote eruption for measles. The herb is commonly known as Radix Puerariae, Kudzuvine Root, Gě Gēn.
Botanical source: The herb Radix Puerariae (Kudzuvine Root) is the dried root of the (1). Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, or (2). Pueraria thomsonii Benth., they are plants of the Pueraria Genus, the Fabaceae family (Leguminosae, pea family) of the Fabales order. These 2 commonly used species are introduced:
(1).Pueraria lobata (Willd.)Ohwi.
Botanical description: Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi is also known as Pueraria thunbergiana (Sieb.et Zucc.)Benth., Pueraria hirsuta (Thunb.)Schneid., Pueraria pseudo-hirsuta Tang et Wang. It is a plant of the perennial deciduous vine, the plant grows long or up to 10 meters. It is commonly known as Ye Ge or wild Pueraria. The whole plant is covered with brown pubescence. The root tuber is cylindrical and hypertrophic, the outer bark is gray-yellow, internal part is floured (powdery), and strong fibrous. The stem has a thick base, the upper part is many-branched. Trifoliolate leaves; terminal petiolule is longer; leaf blade is rhomboid round, 5.5~19 cm long, 4.5~18 cm wide, the apex is acuminate, the base is rounded, sometimes is lobed, lateral leaflets are smaller, obliquely ovate, both sides vary, the back surface is pale, has pruina, both surfaces are covered with white reptant pubescence; stipules are peltate (shield-like) and inserted, ovate-oblong, small stipels are acicular (acerose).
Racemes are axillary or terminal, the corolla is bluish violet (royal purple) or purple; bracts are narrowly linear, caducous, bractlets are oval or lanceolate; Calyx is campanulate, 0.8~1 cm long, 5 calyx teeth, lanceolate, 2 teeth of upper surface connate, 1 tooth of under surface is longer; vexilla are orbicular (subrotund) or oval, the apex is slightly concave, the base has two short ears, alae (wing stems) are narrowly elliptic, shorter than the vexil, usually with basal auricle on the base of one side, tropis (keel pelals) are slightly longer than alae; 10 stamens, disomic; ovary is linear, style is curved.
Pods are linear, 6~9 cm long, 7~10 mm wide, and densely covered with tawny (yellowish-brown) long hirsute. Seeds are oval, auburn, and glossy. Its flowering period is from April to August, and the fruiting period is from August to October.
Growth characteristics: The plant grows on mountain slopes, grass at the roadsides, and damp fields, strong adaptability, the plant can be cultivated on sunny humid barren slopes, or forest edge, but it is better to be cultivated in the deep soil layer, fertile, loose sandy soil. The plant grows all over the country of China.
Characters of herbs: The kudzu herb is a straight-cut rectangular thick piece or in small cubes, with a length of 5~35 cm, and a thickness of 0.5~1 cm. The cortex is light brown to brown, and the cortex is rough, has longitudinal wrinkles. The fracture surface is coarse, yellowish white to yellowish brown, and 1~3 layers of concentric rings are dimly visible. The texture of the herb is strong fibrous, and slightly floured (powdery). The herb is odorless or smells slight, tastes slightly sweet. The herb of a better grade is big, firm and solid, white, floured (powdery), fewer fibers.
Pharmacological actions: ①. Effects on the circulatory system; ②. spasmolysis effect; ③. Hypoglycemic effect; ④. Antipyretic effect.
Medicinal efficacy: Expelling pathogenic factors from muscles and skin to expel heat, promoting eruption of measles, promote the production of body fluid to quench thirst, elevating Yang and relieve diarrhea, neutralize the effect of alcoholic drinks. The root contains flavonoid, the flavonoid has hyperglycemic, antihypertensive effect, dilate cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, enlarge breast and slim waist.
Administration of Radix Puerariae (Gě Gēn):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Radix Puerariae (Gě Gēn)
TCM Books:
①.Internally: 9~15 grams; ②.water decoction, 1.5~3 qian (about 4.5~9 grams), or extract juice.Externally:mashed and apply stick; ③.water decoction, 10~15 grams, or extract juice.Externally:proper amount, mashed and apply stick.
(2).Pueraria thomsonii Benth.
Botanical description: Pueraria thomsonii Benth is a vine. It is commonly known as Gan Ge Teng or sweet Pueraria vine. The root is hypertrophic. Stems and branches are covered with yellowish brown short pubescence or miscellaneous hirsute. Trifoliolate leaf, has long petiole; stipules (peraphyllum) are oblong-lanceolate, piliferous; Leaflets are rhomboid oval to broad-ovate, sometimes are 3-lobed, 9~21 cm long, 8~18 cm wide, the apex is short and acuminate, the base is circular.
Racemes are axillary; bracteoles are oval; the calyx is campanulate, 1.2~1.5 cm long, 5 calyx teeth, lanceolate, longer than hypanthium (calyx tube), covered with yellow hirsute; corolla is purple, 1.3~1.8 cm long.
Pods are long oval, flat; 10~12 cm long, 1~1.2 cm wide, and densely covered with tawny (yellowish-brown) hirsute. Seeds are reniform or round. Its flowering period is from June to September, and the fruiting period is from August to October.
Growth characteristics: The plant is cultivated or grows wild in mountain bushes and sparse forests, it is mainly distributed in the southwest area, Zhujiang river area of China.
Characters of herbs: The roots are cylindrical, fusiform (spindle-shaped), or semi-cylindrical, some are longitudinal slices or thick oblique slices, in different sizes. The surface with the cortex peeled is yellowish white or light yellow, and the one with the cortex is grayish brown. The texture of the herb is hard and heavy, weak fibrous, tomentose (covered with woolly hairs), and floured (powdery). The herb of a better grade is big, firm and farctate, white, floured (powdery), has fewer fibers.
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References:
1.Introduction of Ge Gen:Radix Puerariae or Kudzuvine Root.
✵The article gives records of the herb Kudzuvine Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source 2 plant species, ①.Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, ②.Pueraria thomsonii Benth., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these two plants, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these two plants, the features of the herb Kudzuvine Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Gě Gēn.
Botanical description: Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi is also known as Pueraria thunbergiana (Sieb.et Zucc.)Benth., Pueraria hirsuta (Thunb.)Schneid., Pueraria pseudo-hirsuta Tang et Wang. It is a plant of the perennial deciduous vine, the plant grows long or up to 10 meters. It is commonly known as Ye Ge or wild Pueraria. The whole plant is covered with brown pubescence. The root tuber is cylindrical and hypertrophic, the outer bark is gray-yellow, internal part is floured (powdery), and strong fibrous. The stem has a thick base, the upper part is many-branched. Trifoliolate leaves; terminal petiolule is longer; leaf blade is rhomboid round, 5.5~19 cm long, 4.5~18 cm wide, the apex is acuminate, the base is rounded, sometimes is lobed, lateral leaflets are smaller, obliquely ovate, both sides vary, the back surface is pale, has pruina, both surfaces are covered with white reptant pubescence; stipules are peltate (shield-like) and inserted, ovate-oblong, small stipels are acicular (acerose).
Botanical description: Pueraria thomsonii Benth is a vine. It is commonly known as Gan Ge Teng or sweet Pueraria vine. The root is hypertrophic. Stems and branches are covered with yellowish brown short pubescence or miscellaneous hirsute. Trifoliolate leaf, has long petiole; stipules (peraphyllum) are oblong-lanceolate, piliferous; Leaflets are rhomboid oval to broad-ovate, sometimes are 3-lobed, 9~21 cm long, 8~18 cm wide, the apex is short and acuminate, the base is circular.
Characters of herbs: The roots are cylindrical, fusiform (spindle-shaped), or semi-cylindrical, some are longitudinal slices or thick oblique slices, in different sizes. The surface with the cortex peeled is yellowish white or light yellow, and the one with the cortex is grayish brown. The texture of the herb is hard and heavy, weak fibrous, tomentose (covered with woolly hairs), and floured (powdery). The herb of a better grade is big, firm and farctate, white, floured (powdery), has fewer fibers.
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