Introduction of Xu Duan:Himalayan Teasel Root or Radix Dipsaci.
✵The article gives records of the herb Himalayan Teasel Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source two plant species, ①.Dipsacus asper Wall.ex Henry., ②.Dipsacus asperoides C.Y. Cheng et T.M.Ai., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these two plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these two plant species, the features of the herb Himalayan Teasel Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Radix Dipsaci(Himalayan Teasel Root).
Pin Yin Name: Xù Duàn.
English Name: Himalayan Teasel Root.
Latin Name: Radix Dipsaci.
Property and flavor: slightly warm nature, tastes pungent, bitter.
Brief introduction: The herb Radix Dipsaci is the dried root of Dipsacus asperoides C.Y.Cheng et T.M.Ai, used (1).to tonify the liver and kidney and strengthen the tendons and bones for the treatment of aching back and joints, rheumatic pain in the lumbar region, (2).to improve the healing of fractures, and (3).to stop bleeding and prevent miscarriage, for treating functional uterine bleeding and threatened abortion. The herb is commonly known as Radix Dipsaci, Himalayan Teasel Root, Xù Duàn.
Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Radix Dipsaci(Himalayan Teasel Root) as the dried root of the species (1). Dipsacus asperoides C. Y. Cheng et T. M. Ai, or (2). Dipsacus asper Wall.ex Henry. They are plants of the Dipsacus genus, the Dipsacaceae family of the Rubiales order. These 2 commonly used species are introduced:
(1).Dipsacus asper Wall.ex Henry.
Botanical description: The plant is commonly known as Xù Duàn. Perennial herb, the plant grows up to 50~100 cm tall. The stem is upright, ribbed and shallowly grooved, densely white pilose, rims with coarser bristles. Leaves are opposite; Basal leaves have long stalks, mostly pinnate and deeply lobed or 3-lobed, occasionally complete and unlobed; Stem leaves are mostly 3~5 pinnate, central lobes are the largest, elliptic to ellipsoid broadly ovate, 8~16 cm long, 3~8 cm wide, apex is acuminate, base is cuneate, lobes on both sides are small, base lower side extends into winglike. Leaf of stem tip is smaller, 3-lobed, central lobe is lanceolate, lobes on both sides are smaller, linear; Margin is coarsely serrate, both surfaces are densely covered with white appressed pilose, abaxially often spiny on leaf veins. The inflorescence is globose or broadly elliptic; Involucral bracts are several, linear, an obovate bract outside each flower, apex is pointed and spiny, margin with green needled hairs; Epicalyx is densely pilose; Calyx is discoid, 4-dentate, densely pilose; Corolla is reddish-purple, 4-lobed, lobes are ovoid; 4 stamens, inserted on the upper part of corolla tube, slightly or not extending out of corolla; 1 pistil, ovary is inferior, style is slender. Achene wedge is oblong, 5~6 mm long, with 4 ribs, pale brown, calyx persistent. Its flowering period is from August to September, the fruiting period is from September to October.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on the slope of grassland, where the soil is wet or beside gullies, it also grows on the sunny slope of grassland. It is distributed in the north area, the lower reaches area of the Yangtze River, the west area of the Zhujiang river, northwest, southwest areas, and other areas of China.
Growth characteristics: The plant Dipsacus asper Wall.ex Henry. prefers a cooler and humid climate, cold resistance, avoid high temperature. It is suitable to choose a deep soil layer, fertile, loose soil for cultivation. Cultivation in dry areas or soil with viscous heavy texture and poor drainage, poor growth, easy to catch disease and death.
Characters of herbs: The root is long cylindrical, slightly flat, slightly curved, 5~15 cm in length, and 0.5~2 cm in diameter. The surface is brown or grayish brown, with the most obvious and twisted longitudinal wrinkles and furrows, and many obvious and twisted longitudinal wrinkles and furrows, with long transverse lenticels and a few fibrous root marks. The texture of the herb is slightly soft, hardened after long-term drying. The herb is easy to break, the fracture surface is uneven, the cortex is green-brown or light-brown, the wood part is yellow-brown, often with a radial pattern. The herb has a slight fragrance, it tastes bitter, slightly sweet, and puckery. The herb of better grade has thick stripes, the texture of the herb is soft, the cortex is green-brown.
(2).Dipsacus asperoides C.Y.Cheng et T.M.Ai.
Botanical description: The plant is commonly known as Chuān Xù Duàn. Perennial herb, it grows up to 60~90 cm tall. Roots are long conical, taproots are distinct, or several connate, rind tawny, with slender fibrous roots. The stem is upright, much-branched, ribbed, and shallowly grooved, finely pilose, sparsely prickly on rims. Leaves are opposite; Basal leaves have long stalks, leaves are feathery and deeply lobed, apex lobes are larger, leaf tips are decayed, margin coarsely serrate; Stem leaves are mostly 3-lobed, central lobes are largest, elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 11~13 cm long, 4~6 cm wide, lobes are smaller on both sides, margin is coarsely serrate, white appressed pilose on both sides; Leaf is 3-lobed or entire at stem tip, shortly stipitate, less hairy. Flowers are small, many, into a spherical head; Involucral bracts several, narrowly lanceolate, one bract outside each flower, broadly obovate; Epicalyx 4-obtuse, densely pilose; Calyx shallow disk with 4 teeth, slightly oval triangular; Corolla is white or pale yellow, with 4 deep lobes, the base of corolla tube is tapering, lateral densely villous downwards; 4 stamens, inserted above corolla tube, the filament is slender, extending outside corolla; 1 pistil, stigma is short rod-shaped and flat. Achene is elliptic cuneate, usually external sepal, distinctly 4-arrowed, pale brown. Its flowering period is from August to September, the fruiting period is from September to October.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows wild in the mountain and roadside. It is mainly distributed in the southwest, the middle reaches area of the Yangtze River, and other areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The root is cylindrical, slightly flat, some are slightly curved, the length is 5~15 cm, the diameter is 0.5~2 cm. The surface is grayish-brown or yellowish-brown, with slightly obviously distorted longitudinal wrinkles and furrows, with transverse split lenticels and a few fibrous root marks. The texture of the herb is soft, hardened after long-term storage, easy to break, the fracture surface is uneven, the cortex is dark green or brown, the outer edge is brown or light brown, the wood part is yellowish-brown, the catheter bundles is radial. The herb has a slight fragrance, it tastes bitter, slightly sweet, and then puckery.
Pharmacological actions: ①.inhibitory effect on diplococcus pneumoniae; ②.effect of relieving vitamin E deficiency; ③.effect of hemostasis; ④.effect of apocenosis; ⑤.promote the regeneration.
Medicinal efficacy: Tonifying the liver and kidney, strengthen the tendons and bones, repair fracture injury, regulating blood vessels, stop uterine bleeding. It is indicated for liver and kidney deficiency, soreness and pain of waist and back, soreness and softness of waist and knees, rheumatic arthralgia pain, weakness and feebleness of knees and feet, flaccid paralysis of limbs and joints, uterine bleeding, threatened abortion, morbid leukorrhea, spermatorrhea (seminal emission), traumatic injury, fracture and injury of tendon and muscle, incised (metal-inflicted) wound, anal fistula. Wine prepare herb is mostly indicated for rheumatic arthralgia pain, traumatic injury, fracture and injury of tendon and muscle. Salt prepared herb is mostly indicated for soreness and softness of waist and knees.
Administration of Radix Dipsaci (Xù Duàn):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Radix Dipsaci (Xù Duàn)
TCM Books:
①.Internally:9~15 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 2~4 qian (about 6~12 grams), or prepare to pill, powder. Externally:mash the herb and apply stick; ③.Internally:water decoction,6~15 grams;or prepared to pill, powder. Externally:fresh herb proper amount, mash the herb and apply stick.
Contraindications,Precautions and Adverse Reactions: The herb Radix Dipsaci should not be combined with Omphalia.
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1.Introduction of Xu Duan:Himalayan Teasel Root or Radix Dipsaci.
✵The article gives records of the herb Himalayan Teasel Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source two plant species, ①.Dipsacus asper Wall.ex Henry., ②.Dipsacus asperoides C.Y. Cheng et T.M.Ai., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these two plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these two plant species, the features of the herb Himalayan Teasel Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Xù Duàn.
Botanical description: The plant is commonly known as Xù Duàn. Perennial herb, the plant grows up to 50~100 cm tall. The stem is upright, ribbed and shallowly grooved, densely white pilose, rims with coarser bristles. Leaves are opposite; Basal leaves have long stalks, mostly pinnate and deeply lobed or 3-lobed, occasionally complete and unlobed; Stem leaves are mostly 3~5 pinnate, central lobes are the largest, elliptic to ellipsoid broadly ovate, 8~16 cm long, 3~8 cm wide, apex is acuminate, base is cuneate, lobes on both sides are small, base lower side extends into winglike. Leaf of stem tip is smaller, 3-lobed, central lobe is lanceolate, lobes on both sides are smaller, linear; Margin is coarsely serrate, both surfaces are densely covered with white appressed pilose, abaxially often spiny on leaf veins. The inflorescence is globose or broadly elliptic; Involucral bracts are several, linear, an obovate bract outside each flower, apex is pointed and spiny, margin with green needled hairs; Epicalyx is densely pilose; Calyx is discoid, 4-dentate, densely pilose; Corolla is reddish-purple, 4-lobed, lobes are ovoid; 4 stamens, inserted on the upper part of corolla tube, slightly or not extending out of corolla; 1 pistil, ovary is inferior, style is slender. Achene wedge is oblong, 5~6 mm long, with 4 ribs, pale brown, calyx persistent. Its flowering period is from August to September, the fruiting period is from September to October.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on the slope of grassland, where the soil is wet or beside gullies, it also grows on the sunny slope of grassland. It is distributed in the north area, the lower reaches area of the Yangtze River, the west area of the Zhujiang river, northwest, southwest areas, and other areas of China.
Growth characteristics: The plant Dipsacus asper Wall.ex Henry. prefers a cooler and humid climate, cold resistance, avoid high temperature. It is suitable to choose a deep soil layer, fertile, loose soil for cultivation. Cultivation in dry areas or soil with viscous heavy texture and poor drainage, poor growth, easy to catch disease and death.
Characters of herbs: The root is long cylindrical, slightly flat, slightly curved, 5~15 cm in length, and 0.5~2 cm in diameter. The surface is brown or grayish brown, with the most obvious and twisted longitudinal wrinkles and furrows, and many obvious and twisted longitudinal wrinkles and furrows, with long transverse lenticels and a few fibrous root marks. The texture of the herb is slightly soft, hardened after long-term drying. The herb is easy to break, the fracture surface is uneven, the cortex is green-brown or light-brown, the wood part is yellow-brown, often with a radial pattern. The herb has a slight fragrance, it tastes bitter, slightly sweet, and puckery. The herb of better grade has thick stripes, the texture of the herb is soft, the cortex is green-brown.
Botanical description: The plant is commonly known as Chuān Xù Duàn. Perennial herb, it grows up to 60~90 cm tall. Roots are long conical, taproots are distinct, or several connate, rind tawny, with slender fibrous roots. The stem is upright, much-branched, ribbed, and shallowly grooved, finely pilose, sparsely prickly on rims. Leaves are opposite; Basal leaves have long stalks, leaves are feathery and deeply lobed, apex lobes are larger, leaf tips are decayed, margin coarsely serrate; Stem leaves are mostly 3-lobed, central lobes are largest, elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 11~13 cm long, 4~6 cm wide, lobes are smaller on both sides, margin is coarsely serrate, white appressed pilose on both sides; Leaf is 3-lobed or entire at stem tip, shortly stipitate, less hairy. Flowers are small, many, into a spherical head; Involucral bracts several, narrowly lanceolate, one bract outside each flower, broadly obovate; Epicalyx 4-obtuse, densely pilose; Calyx shallow disk with 4 teeth, slightly oval triangular; Corolla is white or pale yellow, with 4 deep lobes, the base of corolla tube is tapering, lateral densely villous downwards; 4 stamens, inserted above corolla tube, the filament is slender, extending outside corolla; 1 pistil, stigma is short rod-shaped and flat. Achene is elliptic cuneate, usually external sepal, distinctly 4-arrowed, pale brown. Its flowering period is from August to September, the fruiting period is from September to October.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows wild in the mountain and roadside. It is mainly distributed in the southwest, the middle reaches area of the Yangtze River, and other areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The root is cylindrical, slightly flat, some are slightly curved, the length is 5~15 cm, the diameter is 0.5~2 cm. The surface is grayish-brown or yellowish-brown, with slightly obviously distorted longitudinal wrinkles and furrows, with transverse split lenticels and a few fibrous root marks. The texture of the herb is soft, hardened after long-term storage, easy to break, the fracture surface is uneven, the cortex is dark green or brown, the outer edge is brown or light brown, the wood part is yellowish-brown, the catheter bundles is radial. The herb has a slight fragrance, it tastes bitter, slightly sweet, and then puckery.
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