Introduction of Li Zhi He:Lychee Seed or Semen Litchi.

TCM Herbalism:Medicinals and Classifications. ✵The article gives records of the herb Lychee Seed, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Litchi chinensis Sonn., 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 Lychee Seed, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Semen Litchi(Lychee Seed).

Semen Litchi:herb photo Pin Yin Name: Lì Zhī Hé.
 English Name: Lychee Seed.
 Latin Name: Semen Litchi.
 Property and flavor: warm, sweet, slightly bitter.

 Brief introduction: The herb Semen Litchi is the dried ripe seed of Litchi chinensis Sonn., used to move Qi, dissipate nodulation, disperse cold and alleviate pain for treating hernial pain, dysmenorrhea, lower abdominal distension with pain, and swelling and pain of the testis. The herb is commonly known as Semen Litchi, Lychee Seed, Lì Zhī Hé.

 Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Semen Litchi(Lychee Seed) as the dried ripe seed of the species (1). Litchi chinensis Sonn. It is a plant of the Litchi Sonn. Genus, the Sapindaceae family (soapberry family) of the Sapindales order. This commonly defined species is introduced:

(1).Litchi chinensis Sonn.


 Litchi chinensis Sonn.:fresh fruits Botanical description: The tree is commonly known as Lì Zhī. Evergreen trees, it usually grows not more than 10 meters tall, sometimes up to 15 meters or higher, the bark is grayish-black; Branchlets are terete, maroon, densely white lenticels.

 Leaves joined to stalk 10~25 cm long or crossed; 2 or 3 pairs leaflets, less than 4 pairs, thinly leathery or leathery, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, sometimes oblong-lanceolate, 6~15 cm long, 2~4 cm wide, apex is abruptly pointed or caudate shortly acuminate, entire, ventral part is dark green, glossy, back flour green, both surfaces are glabrous; Lateral veins are often slender, not evident on the ventral surface, evident or slightly convex on abaxially; Petiole is 7~8 mm long.

 Litchi chinensis Sonn.:fruits on tree Inflorescences are terminal, broad, much-branched; Pedicels are slender, 2~4 mm long, sometimes coarsely short; Calyx by short golden villi; 6~7 stamens, sometimes 8, filaments ca. 4 mm; Ovary is densely covered with nodules and bristles.

 Fruit is ovoid to subglobose, 2~3.5 cm long, usually dark red to bright red when mature; The seeds are all covered with fleshy aril. It is flowering in spring, fruiting in summer.

 Litchi chinensis Sonn.:fresh fruits Ecological environment: The tree is mainly distributed within the range of 18~29 degrees north latitude in China. It is mostly cultivated in the Zhujiang river area, and also cultivated in southwest area, and Taiwan of China. It is also cultivated in Southeast Asia and introduced into America and Oceania.

 Lychee Seed:herb photo Characters of herbs: The seeds are oblong or long egg shape, slightly flat, 1.5~2.5 cm long. 0.5~1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is brown to brown-red, or purple-brown, smooth, slightly shiny, with irregular concave gaps and fine wrinkles; One end is truncated, with nearly round yellow-brown hilum, 5~7 mm in diameter, and the other end is round and blunt. The texture of the herb is hard, the seed coat is thin leathery, and brittle after being cut open; There are 2 thick cotyledons, orange or brown. The herb has a slight odor, it tastes slightly sweet, bitter, and puckery. The herb of better grade has big and full grains.

 Litchi chinensis Sonn.:fruit kernel Pharmacological actions: ①.lower blood glucose in experimental diabetic animals, similar to the effect of metguanidine hypoglycemic agents; ②.regulate internal and external lipid metabolism disorder; ③.antioxidant effect; ④.protect the liver and fight against hepatitis B virus (Anti-HBV).

 Medicinal efficacy: Promoting the circulation of Qi and eliminating stagnation, warm the middle energizer, regulate Qi, dispelling cold and relieve pain, dissipate stagnation. It is indicated for cold hernia and abdominal pain, hernia pain, epigastric pain, testicular swelling pain, women's pricking caused by the stagnation of QI and blood, dysmenorrhea (abdominal pain after menstruation), postpartum abdominal pain, etc.

 Administration of Semen Litchi (Lì Zhī Hé): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Semen Litchi (Lì Zhī Hé)
TCM Books: ①.Internally:4.5~9 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction,1.5~3 qian (about 4.5~9 grams), or prepare to pill, powder; ③.Internally:water decoction,6~10 grams, prepare to finely ground herb powder,1.5~3 grams, or prepared to pill, powder. Externally:proper amount, prepare to finely ground herb powder, apply stick.

 
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  • 1.Introduction of Li Zhi He:Lychee Seed or Semen Litchi.

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