✵The article records the herb Morinda Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and its botanical source—namely, one plant species: (1) Morinda officinalis How. It also offers a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this species, its growth characteristics and ecological environment, the characteristics of the herb Morinda Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Radix Morindae Officinalis (Morinda Root)
Pinyin Name: Bā Jǐ Tiān
English Name: Morinda Root
Latin Name:Radix Morindae Officinalis Properties and Flavor: Slightly warm in nature; pungent and sweet in taste.
Brief Introduction:Radix Morindae Officinalis is the dried root of Morinda officinalis How., used to reinforce kidney Yang for treating impotence and premature ejaculation in men and frigidity in women. It is commonly known as Radix Morindae Officinalis, Morinda Root, or Bā Jǐ Tiān.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Radix Morindae Officinalis (Bā Jǐ Tiān) as the dried root of the Rubiaceae family plant species (1) Morinda officinalis How. This species belongs to the genus Morinda, family Rubiaceae (madder family), order Gentianales. The following describes this commonly used species:
(1) Morinda officinalis How.
Botanical Description:Morinda officinalis How. is a lianoid shrub of the Rubiaceae family (madder family) and genus Morinda. It is commonly known as Bā Jǐ Tiān, with other vernacular names including Ji Chang Feng, Mao Chang Jing, and Tu Zi Chang. Its root is succulent and hypertrophic, cylindrical, irregularly and intermittently enlarged, and moniliform (bead-like). Young stems bear fine, vertical ridges and are covered with brown coarse hairs. Leaves are opposite; petioles measure 4–8 mm long and are covered with brown coarse hairs; leaf blades are oblong-ovate, 3–13 cm long and 1.5–5 cm wide, with a short-acuminate apex and a blunt or rounded base; margins are entire. The upper surface is dark green (deep green), often purplish when fresh, and sparsely covered with short coarse hairs; it becomes glabrescent with age. The lower surface bears short coarse hairs along the midvein; leaf margins have short cilia; lateral veins occur in 6–7 pairs; stipules (peraphylla) are membranous and sheath-shaped.
Capitulum (flower head): Composed of 2–10 flowers, borne at the tip of a branchlet (twig) or arranged in umbels; peduncles are 3–10 mm long and covered with dirty yellow short coarse hairs; the calyx is obconical, with an irregularly dentate-lobed apex; the corolla is white and succulent, about 7 mm long, with a constricted throat; the inner surface is densely covered with short coarse hairs; lobes are mostly deeply 3-parted, rarely 4-lobed; stamens and tepals are equal in number and inserted near the base of the corolla tube; filaments are short; the ovary is inferior, 4-loculed; the style is slender and deeply 2-parted, enclosed within the corolla.
Drupes (fruit): Subsphaeroidal, 6–11 mm in diameter, turning red at maturity. Each drupe contains a single stone (endocarp) bearing 4 seeds, which are subovate or obovate; the dorsal surface is protuberant, the lateral surfaces are flat, and the entire seed surface covered with white pubescence. Flowering occurs from April to July; fruiting from June to November.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in mountain valleys, along stream banks, in open mountain forests, and in shrublands—often climbing on shrubs or tree trunks—and is also cultivated. It is mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions.
Growth Characteristics: The plant prefers a warm, moist climate, with an optimal annual average temperature above 21 °C and a monthly average temperature between 20–25 °C. Growth slows when temperatures fall below 15 °C or rise above 27 °C. Annual precipitation should exceed 1,200 mm. It is frost-intolerant but drought-tolerant; therefore, waterlogging must be avoided. Cultivation is best carried out in deep, fertile, loose, acidic sandy loam or loam soils with good drainage. The plant exhibits strong adaptability to light conditions; partial shade (30% canopy cover) to full sun is optimal for root development.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root is cylindrical or slightly flattened and curved, with variable lengths; the diameter measures 0.5–2 cm (or 1–2 cm). Its surface is sallow (grayish-yellow) or grayish-yellow brown, sometimes dark gray (dull grayish), occasionally slightly purplish. It bears longitudinal wrinkles and deep transverse striations; some roots are constricted, or the cortex is laterally ruptured, exposing the xylem (wood portion), giving a chicken-intestine-like appearance. The texture is firm yet flexible. The fracture surface is uneven: the cortex is 5–7 mm thick, mauve (lilac), and easily separable from the xylem; the xylem is hard, yellowish-brown or yellowish-white, with a diameter of 2–4 mm. The herb has a mild taste that is slightly bitter and astringent—or sweet and slightly astringent.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Invigorates the kidney and strengthens yang; (2) Exerts anti-fatigue effects; (3) Exhibits adrenocortical hormone-like activity; (4) Produces a short-term antihypertensive effect; (5) Possesses anti-inflammatory activity, among others.
Medicinal Efficacy: Invigorates kidney Yang, strengthens tendons and bones, and dispels wind-dampness. It is indicated for impotence and premature ejaculation (spermatorrhea and prospermia), kidney-Yang deficiency with impotence, cold pain in the lower abdomen, deficiency cold in uterus, uterine coldness and infertility, irregular menstruation, urinary incontinence, rheumatic arthralgia, wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, soreness and weakness of the lumbar region and knees, and flaccidity of tendons and bones.
Administration of Radix Morindae Officinalis (Bā Jǐ Tiān):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Radix Morindae Officinalis (Bā Jǐ Tiān)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–10 grams; (2) Internally: water decoction, 1.5–3 qián (≈ 4.5–9 grams), or prepared as pills, powders, wine infusions, or ointments; (3) Internally: water decoction, 6–15 grams, or prepared as pills or powders; wine infusions and ointments are also used.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Radix Morindae Officinalis should not be combined with Omphalia lapidescens (Lei Wan) or Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen).
✵The article records the herb Morinda Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and its botanical source—namely, one plant species: (1) Morinda officinalis How. It also offers a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this species, its growth characteristics and ecological environment, the characteristics of the herb Morinda Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Bā Jǐ Tiān
Botanical Description: Morinda officinalis How. is a lianoid shrub of the Rubiaceae family (madder family) and genus Morinda. It is commonly known as Bā Jǐ Tiān, with other vernacular names including Ji Chang Feng, Mao Chang Jing, and Tu Zi Chang. Its root is succulent and hypertrophic, cylindrical, irregularly and intermittently enlarged, and moniliform (bead-like). Young stems bear fine, vertical ridges and are covered with brown coarse hairs. Leaves are opposite; petioles measure 4–8 mm long and are covered with brown coarse hairs; leaf blades are oblong-ovate, 3–13 cm long and 1.5–5 cm wide, with a short-acuminate apex and a blunt or rounded base; margins are entire. The upper surface is dark green (deep green), often purplish when fresh, and sparsely covered with short coarse hairs; it becomes glabrescent with age. The lower surface bears short coarse hairs along the midvein; leaf margins have short cilia; lateral veins occur in 6–7 pairs; stipules (peraphylla) are membranous and sheath-shaped.
Capitulum (flower head): Composed of 2–10 flowers, borne at the tip of a branchlet (twig) or arranged in umbels; peduncles are 3–10 mm long and covered with dirty yellow short coarse hairs; the calyx is obconical, with an irregularly dentate-lobed apex; the corolla is white and succulent, about 7 mm long, with a constricted throat; the inner surface is densely covered with short coarse hairs; lobes are mostly deeply 3-parted, rarely 4-lobed; stamens and tepals are equal in number and inserted near the base of the corolla tube; filaments are short; the ovary is inferior, 4-loculed; the style is slender and deeply 2-parted, enclosed within the corolla.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in mountain valleys, along stream banks, in open mountain forests, and in shrublands—often climbing on shrubs or tree trunks—and is also cultivated. It is mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root is cylindrical or slightly flattened and curved, with variable lengths; the diameter measures 0.5–2 cm (or 1–2 cm). Its surface is sallow (grayish-yellow) or grayish-yellow brown, sometimes dark gray (dull grayish), occasionally slightly purplish. It bears longitudinal wrinkles and deep transverse striations; some roots are constricted, or the cortex is laterally ruptured, exposing the xylem (wood portion), giving a chicken-intestine-like appearance. The texture is firm yet flexible. The fracture surface is uneven: the cortex is 5–7 mm thick, mauve (lilac), and easily separable from the xylem; the xylem is hard, yellowish-brown or yellowish-white, with a diameter of 2–4 mm. The herb has a mild taste that is slightly bitter and astringent—or sweet and slightly astringent.
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