Introduction of Sheng Ma:Rhizoma Cimicifuga or Largetrifoliolious Bugbane Rhizome.

TCM Herbalism:Medicinals and Classifications. ✵The article gives records of the herb Skunk Bugbane Rhizome, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source 3 plant species, ①.Cimicifuga heracleifolia Kom., ②.Cimicifuga dahurica(Turcz.)Maxim., ③.Cimicifuga foetida L., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these three plants, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these three plants, the features of the herb Skunk Bugbane Rhizome, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Rhizoma Cimicifuga(Largetrifoliolious Bugbane Rhizome).

a pile of dried herbs of Skunk Bugbane Rhizome Pin Yin Name: Shēng Má.
 English Name: Skunk Bugbane Rhizome.
 Latin Name: Rhizoma Cimicifugae.
 Property and flavor: slight cold, slight sweet, pungent.

 Brief introduction: The herb Rhizoma Cimicifuga is the dried rhizome of Cimicifuga heracleifolia Kom., Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim., or Cimicifuga foetida L., used (1).to promote eruption in the treatment of measles, (2).to clear heat and counteract toxins for treating sore throat and stomatitis, and (3).to restore the normal position of the viscera in cases of splanchnoptosis. The herb is commonly known as Rhizoma Cimicifuga, Largetrifoliolious Bugbane Rhizome, Shēnɡ Má.

 Botanical source: The herb Rhizoma Cimicifuga is the dried rhizome of the species (1). Cimicifuga heracleifolia Komar., (2). Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim., or (3). Cimicifuga foetida L., they are plants of the Actaea (baneberry or bugbane) genus, the Ranunculaceae family (buttercup family, crowfoot, ranunculus family) of the Ranunculales order. These 3 commonly used species are introduced:

(1).Cimicifuga heracleifolia Komar.


 flowering plants of Cimicifuga heracleifolia Komar grow in a cluster Botanical description: The plant, Cimicifuga heracleifolia Komar is commonly known as Da San Ye Sheng Ma, Big Triple Leaves Cimicifuga, is a plant of the Ranunculaceae family (buttercup family, crowfoot, ranunculus family) and Actaea (baneberry or bugbane) genus, a perennial herb, the plant grows up to 1 meter high or higher. The rhizome is rough and thick, the surface is black, and there are many cave-shaped sunken old stem residues. Stems are upright, glabrous, lower stem leaves are biternate compound leaves, glabrous; petioles are up to 20 cm long, glabrous; terminal leaflets are obovate or obovate-elliptic, 6~12 cm long, 4~9 cm wide, the apex is 3-lobed, the base is rounded, round cuneate (wedge-shaped) or slightly cordate, the edge is coarsely serrate, lateral leaflets are obliquely ovate, smaller than terminal leaflets, glabrous or sparsely covered with white pilose along veins on the undersurface; the leaves on the upper stem part are trifoliolate.

 The compound raceme has 2–9 branches; inflorescences and pedicels have grayish glandular hairs and pilose; bracts are subulate, about 1 mm long; pedicels are 2~4 mm long; flowers are hermaphroditic; 5 sepals, petaloid, yellowish-white, obovate or broadly elliptic, 3~4 mm long, 2.5~3 mm wide, caducous; petals are absent; staminode is elliptic, 2.5-4 mm long, 1.6~2 mm wide, the apex is entire; stamens are numerous, the filaments are filate, 3~6 mm long; 3~5 carpels, have short stalk, glabrous. The follicle is oblong, 5~6 mm long, and 3~4 mm wide, the length of carpopodium (fruit stalk) is about 1 mm. Seeds are oval, about 3 mm long, and surrounded by membranous squamous wings. Its flowering period is from August to September, and the fruiting period is from September to October.

 Growth characteristics: The plant grows in the mountain wild grass, bushes, and gully. It is mainly distributed in the northern area of China.

 Characters of herbs: The herb is also known as Guan Sheng Ma (the guan cohosh root), the rhizome of Cimicifuga heracleifolia Kom is irregularly long and many-branched and turns to nodules, 5~22 cm long, 2~6 cm in diameter. The surface is grayish brown or yellowish brown, coarse, the stem base mark is disc-shaped or groove-shape, 1~3.5 cm in diameter, the height is 0.5~2 cm, and the inner wall of the disc or groove has reticular veins; there are hard fibrous root residues on the undersurface. The herb body is light and firm, not easy to break, the fracture surface is uneven and fibrous, the xylem has radial veins, yellow-brown or yellow-green, and the pith part is black-brown. The herb has a slight smell, and it tastes bitter. The herb of a better grade is big, the texture is firm, and the surface is black-brown.

(2).Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim.


 a flowering plant of Cimicifuga dahurica Turcz.Maxim.,with white flower spikes Botanical description: The plant, Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim is also known as Actaea dahurica Turcz.ex Fisch.et Mey., it is commonly known as Xing An Sheng Ma, or Dahurian Bugbane Rhizome, it is a plant of the Ranunculaceae family (buttercup family, crowfoot, ranunculus family) and Actaea (baneberry or bugbane) genus, a perennial herb, the plant grows up to 1 meter high. The rhizome is stout, mostly curved, the surface is black, and there are many cave-shaped sunken old stem residues. The stem is upright, glabrous, or slightly piliferous. Lower cauline leaves are biternate or triternate compound leaves; petioles are up to 17 cm; terminal leaflets are wide rhombic, 5~10 cm long, 3.5~9 cm wide, 3-lobed, the base is slightly cordate or round, edges are irregular serrate, lateral leaflets are oblong-ovate, slightly oblique, the edge is irregularly serrate, the upper surface is glabrous, the undersurface is sparsely pubescent along veins; upper leaves are similar to lower leaves, but smaller, have short-stalks.

 Compound raceme, flowers are unisexual (separate), dioecious, male plant has a big inflorescence, up to 30 cm long, has 7~20 branches, the female plant has a slightly smaller inflorescence and fewer branches; the inflorescence axis and pedicel are covered with gray glandular-hair and pubescence, 5 sepals, petaloid, white, broadly elliptic or broadly obovate, 3~3.5 mm long, caducous; petals are absent; staminode is forked 2-parted, has 1 empty anther at each end; stamens are numerous, the filaments are filate, 4~5 mm long, anther is about 1 mm long; 4~7 carpels, sparsely covered with gray pilose or are glabrate, sessile or has a short stalk.

 Follicles are about 7~8 mm long, and about 4 mm wide, the apex has appressed white pilose, carpopodium (fruit stalk) is 1~2 mm long. Seeds are elliptical, about 3 mm long, brown, surrounded by membranous squamous wings, the center has horizontal squamous wings. Its flowering period is from July to August, and the fruiting period is from August to September.

 Growth characteristics: The plant grows on the hillside and at shady places, in the mountain forest edges, forest, or mountain slopes and grassland, in areas at altitudes of 300~1,200 meters above sea level. It is mainly distributed in the northern area, middle reaches of the Yellow River, middle reaches of the Yangtze River, etc.

 Characters of herbs: The herb is also known as Bei Sheng Ma (the north cohosh root), the rhizome of Cimicifuga dahurica is an irregular long block and many-branched and has nodules, 3-13 cm long, 1.5-2.4 cm in diameter. The surface is gray-black and coarse, the stem base mark is round and cave-shaped, 0.5~1.5 cm in diameter, and 1~3 cm tall, and the inner wall of the hole has vertical or reticulated grooves; there are hard fibrous root residues on the under surface. The herb is light and firm, not easy to break, the fracture surface is extremely uneven, the xylem is radial, fibrous, yellow-green, has cracks, and the pith is hollow and black. The herb has a slight smell and a bitter taste. The herb of a better grade is big, the texture is firm, and the surface is black-brown.

(3).Cimicifuga foetida L.


 a flowering plant of Cimicifuga foetida L. Botanical description: The plant, Cimicifuga foetida L is also known as Actaea cimicifuga L., is commonly known as Sheng Ma, a plant of the Ranunculaceae family (buttercup family, crowfoot, ranunculus family) and Actaea (baneberry or bugbane) genus, a perennial herb, the plant grows up to 1~2 meters high. The rhizome is sturdy and solid, the surface is black, and there are many invaginated cave-shaped old stalk residues. The stem is upright, branches are branched at the upper part, and pubescent. Leaves are biternate or triternate pinnate leaves; petioles are up to 15 cm long; terminal leaflets on the lower stem have long petioles, rhombic, 7~10 cm long, 4~7 cm wide, usually 3-lobed, the edge is serrate, lateral leaflets have short petioles or sessile, obliquely ovate, slightly smaller than the terminal leaflets, the edge is serrate, the upper surface is glabrous, the undersurface has sparse white pilose along veins.

 Compound raceme has 3~20 branches, up to 45 cm long, the lower branch is up to 15 cm long; the inflorescence axis is densely covered with gray or rusty glandular hairs and pubescence; bracts are subulate, shorter than pedicels; flowers are hermaphroditic; 5 sepals, petaloid, obovate-orbicular, white or greenish white, 3~4 mm long, caducous; petals are absent; staminode is broadly elliptic, about 3 mm long, the apex is slightly concave or 2-lobed; stamens are numerous, 4~7 mm long; 2~5 carpels, densely covered with gray pilose, sessile or stalk is very short.

 Follicles are oblong, 8~14 mm long, 2.5~5 mm wide, densely covered with appressed pilose, the length of carpopodium (fruit stalk) is 2~3 mm, and has a short rostrum (beak). Seeds are elliptical, brown, 2.5~3 mm long, surrounded by membranous squamous wings. Its flowering period is from July to September, and the fruiting period is from August to October.

 Growth characteristics: The plant prefers a warm and humid climate and often grows in the forest, in the grass on hillsides, at forest edges, in the grass along the road, in areas at altitudes of 1,700~2,300 meters above sea level. It is mainly distributed in the southwest, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, northern and northwest areas, the middle reaches of the Yellow River, and other areas of China.

 Characters of herbs: The herb is also known as Sheng Ma (cohosh root), or Xi Sheng Ma (the west cohosh root), the rhizome is an irregular long block with many branches, 3~17 cm long, and 1.7~4 cm in diameter. The surface is dark brown and extremely coarse, and the upper surface is covered with several round cavitary (hole-like) stem bases, 0.8~2.5 cm in diameter, 1~2 cm high, inner wall is coarse, and the cave is shallow; there are many fibrous root residues on the under surface. The texture of the herb is tough and tensile, not easy to break, the fracture surface is uneven, the xylem (wood part) is yellow-green, and radial, and the pith (medulla) is slightly flat, gray-green, and slightly floured (powdery). The herb has a slight smell, and it tastes bitter. The herb of a better grade is big, the texture is firm, and the surface is black-brown.

 Pharmacological actions: ①.antipyretic; ②.anti-inflammatory; ③.spasmolysis effect; ④.analgesic; ⑤.sedative; ⑥.anti-convulsive; ⑦.other effects.

 Medicinal efficacy: Inducing perspiration and prompt eruption, clear heat and detoxification, elevating Yang, it is mainly indicated for the treatment of wind-heat headache, toothache, oral ulcer, sore throat, measles without adequate eruption, Yang toxic maculae, rectocele, uterine prolapse, etc.

 Administration of Rhizoma Cimicifugae (Shēng Má): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Rhizoma Cimicifugae (Shēng Má)
TCM Books: ①.Internally: 3~9 grams; ②.water decoction, 0.5~3 qian (about 1.5~9 grams), or prepare to pill, powder. Externally: prepare to ground herb powder and apply stick, mouthwash with water decoction or drip washing; ③.water decoction, for elevating Yang, 3~6 grams, better prepare with honey, fried with wine, for clearing heat and detoxification, could be up to 15 grams, better use raw herb; or prepare into pill, powder. Externally: proper amount, prepare to finely ground herb powder and apply stick, mouthwash with water decoction, or drip washing. To prompt eruption, detoxification better use prepared herb, to elevate Yang and reinforce Yang better use the raw herb.
 Precautions: Overdosage will lead to dizziness, trembling, spasm of limbs,etc.

 

 
  

 

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References:
  • 1.Introduction of Sheng Ma:Rhizoma Cimicifuga or Largetrifoliolious Bugbane Rhizome.

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