Pinyin: Huaihua
Aliases
Huairui
Source
Fabaceae plant SophoraSophora japonicaL. of dried flowers and flower buds.
Botanical Description
See the entry under “Huaijiao”.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvested when flowers are in bloom or buds are forming in summer, promptly dried, and branches, stems, and impurities are removed. The former is commonly known as "Sophora flower" (Huaihua), and the latter as "Sophora flower bud" (Huaimi).
Medicinal Properties
1. *Sophora japonica* (Huaihua): The flower buds are wrinkled and curled, with many petals scattered. When intact, the calyx is bell-shaped, yellow-green, with 5 shallow apical lobes; petals are 5, yellow or yellowish-white, with one petal larger, nearly round, slightly concave at the apex, and the other 4 oblong. Stamens are 10, with 9 united at the base, filaments slender. The pistil is cylindrical and curved. Light in weight. Odor: faint; Taste: slightly bitter.
2. Flos Sophorae Immaturus: Ovoid or ellipsoid in shape, 2-6 mm long, approximately 2 mm in diameter. The lower part of the calyx has several longitudinal striations. Above the calyx are yellow-white unopened petals. The pedicel is fine and small. Light in weight, easily crushed by hand. Odor: faint; Taste: slightly bitter and astringent.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains rhamnose, isorhamnetin-3-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-rutinoside, quercetin, azukisaponin, sophoraflavonoside, sophoradiol, and other constituents.
Pharmacology
Antibacterial, coagulation, hemostatic.
Properties and Channel Entry
Bitter, slightly cold. Enters the Liver and Large Intestine channels.
Functions and Indications
Cools Blood to arrest bleeding, clears the Liver and drains Fire
Dosage and Administration
Internal: decoct in water, 5-10 g; or made into pills or powder
Precautions and Contraindications
Those with Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold and yin deficiency with heat but without excess fire should use with caution.
Prescriptions
1. For hematochezia (bleeding from the large intestine): *Sophora flower* and *Schizonepeta* spike in equal parts. Grind into powder, take with wine. (Experience Formulas) 2. For rectal prolapse: *Sophora flower* and *Sophora fruit* in equal parts, stir-fry until fragrant and yellow, grind into fine powder. Dip sheep's blood in the powder, roast and eat, taken with wine. Alternatively, remove the skin from pig's bladder, dip in the powder, roast and take. (Baixuan Selected Formulas) 3. For hematuria (blood in urine): Stir-fried *Sophora flower* and roasted *Curcuma* root, 30 g each. Grind into powder, take 6 g per dose with diluted fermented soybean soup. (Qie Zhong Mi Bao Fang) 4. For bloody stranguria (painful urination with blood): Burn *Sophora flower* over fire, remove fire toxicity, pound into powder. Take 3 g per dose with water and wine. (Diannan Bencao) 5. For metrorrhagia (uterine bleeding): Aged *Sophora flower* 30 g, *soot from grass* 15 g. Grind into powder, take 9-12 g per dose, adjusted with warm wine. (Liangpeng Huiji *Sophora Flower Powder*) 6. For persistent leukorrhea (vaginal discharge): Stir-fried *Sophora flower* and calcined *oyster shell* in equal parts. Grind into powder, take 9 g per dose with wine, until effective. (Zhai Xuan Fang) 7. For incessant hematemesis (vomiting blood): *Sophora flower* in an unspecified amount. Burn over fire to preserve the nature, grind fine, add a little musk. Take 9 g per dose, adjusted with warm glutinous rice drink. (Shengji Zonglu *Sophora Fragrant Powder*) 8. For aphasia due to wind stroke: Stir-fry *Sophora flower* alone until fragrant and cooked. After midnight, lie supine in bed and take freely. (Shiyi Dexiao Fang *Single Action Powder*)
