✵The article records the herb Ramie Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, botanical source—namely, the single plant species (1) Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species; the characteristics of the herb Ramie Root; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Radix Boehmeriae (Ramie Root)
Pinyin Name: Zhù Má
English Name: Ramie Root
Latin Name:Radix Boehmeriae Property and Flavor: Cold, sweet
Brief Introduction:Radix Boehmeriae is the dried root of Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud., used to arrest bleeding and prevent miscarriage in the treatment of bleeding associated with threatened abortion and menorrhagia. The herb is commonly known as Radix Boehmeriae, Ramie Root, or Zhù Má.
Botanical Source: Common herbal classics and other authoritative materia medica works define Radix Boehmeriae (Ramie Root) as the dried root or rhizome of (1) Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud., a plant belonging to the genus Boehmeria Jacq., family Urticaceae (nettle family), order Rosales. This widely used species is described below:
(1) Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud.
Botanical Description:Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud. is also known as Urtica nivea L. and commonly called Zhù Má. It is a perennial subshrub growing 0.5–1.5 m tall (occasionally up to 2 m); the stem is erect, cylindrical, much-branched, bluish-brown, and densely covered with coarse pilose and appressed short strigose hairs.
Leaves are alternate; petioles measure 2–11 cm in length; two stipules (peraphylla), separate and caducous; leaf blades are herbaceous, usually broadly ovate or oval (egg-shaped), rarely ovate, 6–15 cm long and 4–12 cm wide; apex is acuminate to nearly caudate; base is truncate or broadly cuneate; margin is densely dentate; upper surface is green, coarse, and sparsely pubescent; lower surface is densely covered with white pilose hairs; with three basal veins.
Flowers are unisexual and usually monoecious; inflorescences are axillary panicles, 5–10 cm long, with male inflorescences typically positioned below female ones; male flowers are small, sessile, yellowish-white, with four tepals (perianth lobes), four stamens, and a pistillode; female flowers are pale green, globose, ~2 mm in diameter, with a tubular (fistuliform), persistent perianth and a single style.
Achenes are small, elliptic, densely pubescent, enclosed by a persistent perianth, and contain one seed. Flowering occurs in September; fruiting in October.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on valley forest margins, grassy slopes, mountains, gentle slopes, hilly soils, or plains, at altitudes of 200–1,700 m above sea level. It is widely cultivated in China.
Growth characteristics:Boehmeria nivea prefers a warm, moist climate. The optimal germination temperature is 22–25 °C (71.6–77 °F); the most suitable growth temperature is 23–30 °C (73.4–86 °F); young seedlings cease growth below 8 °C (46.4 °F) and are susceptible to freezing death below 0 °C (32 °F). Annual precipitation of 800–1,000 mm and relative humidity (RH) of ~80% are ideal. The plant is wind-sensitive and intolerant of waterlogging. It exhibits strong soil adaptability; however, cultivation is best conducted in deep, fertile, loose, humus-rich soils—such as sandy loam or clay loam—with good drainage and a soil pH of 5.5–6.5.
Characteristics of the Herb: The rhizome is irregularly cylindrical and slightly curved, 4–30 cm long and 0.4–5 cm in diameter. Its surface is taupe-brown (grayish brown), with longitudinal striations, numerous lenticels, verrucous protrusions, and residual fibrous roots. The herb is firm and hard, not easily broken; the fracture surface is fibrous, with a brown cortex and light brown xylem (wood); some specimens exhibit several concentric rings in the center, and the center may contain a pith or be hollow. The root is slightly fusiform (spindle-shaped), approximately 10 cm long and 1–1.3 cm in diameter; its surface is taupe-brown (grayish brown), with longitudinal striations and elongated lenticels; the fracture surface is powdery. The herb has a slight odor, a mild taste, and is mucilaginous.
Ramie is a traditional Chinese crop primarily used for textile production. China accounts for over 90% of global ramie production. Ramie stem fiber is long, fine, tough, white, and lustrous, with high tensile strength, moisture resistance, excellent elasticity, and thermal insulation properties. It is used to weave aircraft wing cloth, rubber industry interlinings, wire coverings, incandescent lamp filaments, fishing nets, artificial silk, artificial cotton, and wool blends for high-end apparel; staple fiber serves as raw material for premium paper, rayon, carpets, gunny bags, and other industrial products.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears heat, cools the blood, stops bleeding, detoxifies, promotes diuresis, invigorates blood circulation by dispelling stasis, and prevents miscarriage. It is indicated for: fever with marked thirst, severe agitation (mania), hematuric strangury (strangury complicated by hematuria), hematochezia (blood in stool), uterine bleeding, purpura (cutaneous hemorrhagic spots), threatened abortion (vaginal bleeding during pregnancy), hematemesis (hemorrhagic vomiting), epistaxis (nasal bleeding), bleeding from the orifices or subcutaneous tissues, hematochezia (blood in stool), leukorrhea and sanguinolent vaginal discharge, dribbling urination, urinary retention, erysipelas, ulcerative carbuncles, traumatic injuries, and bites from snakes or insects.
Administration of Radix Boehmeriae (Zhù Má):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Radix Boehmeriae (Zhù Má)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: water decoction, 1.5–5 qian (about 4.5–15 grams); or fresh juice. Topical: mashed fresh herb applied as a poultice, or decoction used for washing. (2) Internally: water decoction, 5–30 grams; or fresh juice. Topical: appropriate amount of mashed fresh herb applied as a poultice, or fumigation and washing with decoction.
✵The article records the herb Ramie Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, botanical source—namely, the single plant species (1) Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species; the characteristics of the herb Ramie Root; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Zhù Má
Botanical Description: Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud. is also known as Urtica nivea L. and commonly called Zhù Má. It is a perennial subshrub growing 0.5–1.5 m tall (occasionally up to 2 m); the stem is erect, cylindrical, much-branched, bluish-brown, and densely covered with coarse pilose and appressed short strigose hairs.
Flowers are unisexual and usually monoecious; inflorescences are axillary panicles, 5–10 cm long, with male inflorescences typically positioned below female ones; male flowers are small, sessile, yellowish-white, with four tepals (perianth lobes), four stamens, and a pistillode; female flowers are pale green, globose, ~2 mm in diameter, with a tubular (fistuliform), persistent perianth and a single style.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on valley forest margins, grassy slopes, mountains, gentle slopes, hilly soils, or plains, at altitudes of 200–1,700 m above sea level. It is widely cultivated in China.
Ramie is a traditional Chinese crop primarily used for textile production. China accounts for over 90% of global ramie production. Ramie stem fiber is long, fine, tough, white, and lustrous, with high tensile strength, moisture resistance, excellent elasticity, and thermal insulation properties. It is used to weave aircraft wing cloth, rubber industry interlinings, wire coverings, incandescent lamp filaments, fishing nets, artificial silk, artificial cotton, and wool blends for high-end apparel; staple fiber serves as raw material for premium paper, rayon, carpets, gunny bags, and other industrial products.
URL QR code:
