Introduction of Ba Ji Tian:Morinda Root or Radix Morindae Officinalis.
✵The article gives records of the herb Morinda Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Morinda officinalis How., 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 Morinda Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Radix Morindae Officinalis(Morinda Root).
Pin Yin Name: Bā Jǐ Tiān.
English Name: Morinda Root.
Latin Name: Radix Morindae Officinalis.
Property and flavor: slightly warm nature, tastes pungent, sweet.
Brief introduction: The herb Radix Morindae Officinalis is the dried root of Morinda officinalis How, used to reinforce kidney Yang for the treatment of impotence and premature ejaculation in men, and frigidity in women. The herb is commonly known as Radix Morindae Officinalis, Morinda Root, Bā Jǐ Tiān.
Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Radix Morindae Officinalis (Bā Jǐ Tiān) as the dry root of the Rubiaceae family plant species (1). Morinda officinalis How. It is a plant of the Morinda genus, the Rubiaceae family (madder family) of the Gentianales order. This commonly used species is introduced:
(1).Morinda officinalis How.
Botanical description: The plant, Morinda officinalis How is a plant of the Rubiaceae family (madder family) and Morinda genus, it is commonly known as Bā Jǐ Tiān, and other names include Ji Chang Feng, Mao Chang Jing, Tu Zi Chang, etc. A lianoid shrub, the root is succulent and hypertrophic, cylindrical, irregularly and intermittently enlarged, and moniliform (bead-like). The stems have fine and vertical ridges, covered with brown coarse hairs when the plant is young. Leaves are opposite; petioles are 4–8 mm long, and have brown coarse hairs; leaf blades are oblong oval, 3–13 cm long, 1.5–5 cm wide, the apex is short and acuminate, the base is blunt or rounded, entire, the upper surface is dark green (deep green), often purplish when it is fresh, and has sparse short coarse hairs; it turns glabrescent when it is old, the under surface is covered with short coarse hairs along the midvein, leaf edges have short cilia, lateral veins are in 6–7 pairs; stipules (peraphyllum) are membraneous, sheath-shaped (sheathed).
Capitulum (flower head), has 2–10 flowers, grows on the tip of a branchlet (twig) or arranged in umbel; peduncles are 3-10 mm long, covered with dirty yellow short coarse hairs; the calyx is obconical, the front end is irregularly dentate lobed; corolla is white, succulent, length reaches 7 mm, corolla tube throat is constricted, the inner surface is densely covered with short coarse hairs, mostly are deeply 3-parted, rarely 4-lobed; stamens and tepals are the same numbers, and grow near the base of corolla tube, filaments are short; the ovary is inferior, 4-loculed, style is slender, deeply 2-parted, hide inside the corolla.
Drupes (drupe fruits) are subsphaeroidal, 6–11 mm in diameter, and turn red at maturity. A small stone (nut) contains 4 grains of seeds, subovate or obovate, the back surface is protuberant, and the lateral surface is flat, covered with white pubescence. Its flowering period is from April to July, and the fruiting period is from June to November.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in mountain valleys, stream sides, mountain open forests, and shrubs, often climbing on shrubs or tree trunks, also introduced for cultivation. Geographical distribution: This species is mainly distributed in regions of the tropical and subtropical regions, in China, it is distributed in the Zhujiang river area, and other regions of the tropical and subtropical regions.
Growth characteristics: The plant prefers a warm and moist climate, annual average temperature is over 21 and, the monthly average temperature is between 20-25, which is optimal for its growth. The plant grows slowly when the temperature is lower than 15 or above 27. Yearly precipitation is over 1,200 mm. The plant is not tolerant to frost but is tolerant to drought, so avoid waterlogging. It is appropriate to choose a field with deep soil layers, fertile, loose, acidic sandy loam or loam with good drainage for cultivation. The plant has a strong adaptability to lights, a shady level over 30% to full exposure is better for root growth.
Characters of herbs: The root is a flat cylinder or cylindrical, slightly curved, lengths are different, the diameter is 1~2 cm or 0.5~2 cm, and its surface is sallow (grayish-yellow) or grayish yellow-brown, or dark gray (dull grayish), some are slightly purplish, has longitudinal wrinkles and deepset cross striations, some of which are constricted, or the cortex is laterally broken and exposes the xylem (wood part), shape is like chicken intestines. The texture of the herb is firm and flexible, the fracture surface is uneven, the thickness of the cortex is 5-7 mm, mauve (lilac), easy to peel off from the xylem, the xylem is hard, yellowish-brown or yellowish-white, and the diameter of the xylem is 2~4 mm. The herb has a mild taste, it tastes bitter and slightly puckery, or sweet and slightly puckery. The herb of a better grade has thick stripes, beaded, thick, and purple. The herb of an inferior grade has thin strips, is gray.
Pharmacological actions: ①.invigorates the kidney and to strengthen yang; ②.anti-fatigue effect; ③.enhance the immune function and the number of white blood cells in the blood; ④.high concentration of iron, iron join in the synthesis of hemoglobin, has strong stimulation hemopoietic function; ⑤.promoting effect of corticosterone secretion; ⑥.short time antihypertensive effect; ⑦.short time sedative and diuretic effect; ⑧.anti-inflammatory effect; ⑨.adrenocortical hormone-like effect.
Medicinal efficacy: Invigorating kidney Yang, strengthen muscles tendons and bones, expelling wind-damp. It is indicated for asynodia and spermatorrhea (impotence and seminal emission), kidney deficiency and asynodia, spermatorrhea and prospermia (seminal emission and premature ejaculation), cold pain in lower abdomen, deficiency cold in uterus, cold in uterus and infertility, irregular menses, incontinence of urine, rheumatic arthralgia pain, anemofrigid-damp arthralgia (wind-cold-wetness bype of arthralgia), aching pain of waist and knees, flaccidity of muscle tendon and bones, etc.
Administration of Radix Morindae Officinalis (Bā Jǐ Tiān):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Radix Morindae Officinalis (Bā Jǐ Tiān)
TCM Books:
①.Internally:3~10 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 1.5~3 qian (about 4.5~9 grams), or prepare to pill, powder, infusing in wine or prepare an ointment; ③.Internally:water decoction,6~15 grams, or prepared to pill, powder;also could infuse in wine or prepare an ointment.
Contraindications,Precautions and Adverse Reactions: The herb Radix Morindae Officinalis should not be combined with Omphalia, Danshen Root.
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1.Introduction of Ba Ji Tian:Morinda Root or Radix Morindae Officinalis.
✵The article gives records of the herb Morinda Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Morinda officinalis How., 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 Morinda Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Bā Jǐ Tiān.
Botanical description: The plant, Morinda officinalis How is a plant of the Rubiaceae family (madder family) and Morinda genus, it is commonly known as Bā Jǐ Tiān, and other names include Ji Chang Feng, Mao Chang Jing, Tu Zi Chang, etc. A lianoid shrub, the root is succulent and hypertrophic, cylindrical, irregularly and intermittently enlarged, and moniliform (bead-like). The stems have fine and vertical ridges, covered with brown coarse hairs when the plant is young. Leaves are opposite; petioles are 4–8 mm long, and have brown coarse hairs; leaf blades are oblong oval, 3–13 cm long, 1.5–5 cm wide, the apex is short and acuminate, the base is blunt or rounded, entire, the upper surface is dark green (deep green), often purplish when it is fresh, and has sparse short coarse hairs; it turns glabrescent when it is old, the under surface is covered with short coarse hairs along the midvein, leaf edges have short cilia, lateral veins are in 6–7 pairs; stipules (peraphyllum) are membraneous, sheath-shaped (sheathed).
Capitulum (flower head), has 2–10 flowers, grows on the tip of a branchlet (twig) or arranged in umbel; peduncles are 3-10 mm long, covered with dirty yellow short coarse hairs; the calyx is obconical, the front end is irregularly dentate lobed; corolla is white, succulent, length reaches 7 mm, corolla tube throat is constricted, the inner surface is densely covered with short coarse hairs, mostly are deeply 3-parted, rarely 4-lobed; stamens and tepals are the same numbers, and grow near the base of corolla tube, filaments are short; the ovary is inferior, 4-loculed, style is slender, deeply 2-parted, hide inside the corolla.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in mountain valleys, stream sides, mountain open forests, and shrubs, often climbing on shrubs or tree trunks, also introduced for cultivation. Geographical distribution: This species is mainly distributed in regions of the tropical and subtropical regions, in China, it is distributed in the Zhujiang river area, and other regions of the tropical and subtropical regions.
Characters of herbs: The root is a flat cylinder or cylindrical, slightly curved, lengths are different, the diameter is 1~2 cm or 0.5~2 cm, and its surface is sallow (grayish-yellow) or grayish yellow-brown, or dark gray (dull grayish), some are slightly purplish, has longitudinal wrinkles and deepset cross striations, some of which are constricted, or the cortex is laterally broken and exposes the xylem (wood part), shape is like chicken intestines. The texture of the herb is firm and flexible, the fracture surface is uneven, the thickness of the cortex is 5-7 mm, mauve (lilac), easy to peel off from the xylem, the xylem is hard, yellowish-brown or yellowish-white, and the diameter of the xylem is 2~4 mm. The herb has a mild taste, it tastes bitter and slightly puckery, or sweet and slightly puckery. The herb of a better grade has thick stripes, beaded, thick, and purple. The herb of an inferior grade has thin strips, is gray.
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