Pinyin: Qianniuzi
Aliases
Caojinling, Jinling, Heiqianniu, Baiqianniu, Heichou, Baichou.
Source
Convolvulaceae plant *Pharbitis nil* (L.) Choisy.Pharbitis nil(L.) Choisy or Ipomoea purpurea (L.) RothPharbitis purpureaDried mature seeds of (L.) Voigt.
Botanical Description
1. Ipomoea hederacea: Annual twining herb. Stem sinistrorse, 2 m or more in length, covered with retrorse short pubescence mixed with retrorse or spreading long stiff hairs. Leaves alternate; petiole 2-15 cm long; leaf blade broadly ovate or suborbicular, deeply or shallowly 3-lobed, occasionally 5-lobed, 4-15 m long, 4.5-14 cm wide, base cordate, middle lobe oblong or ovate, acuminate or abruptly pointed, lateral lobes shorter, triangular, sinuses acute or rounded, upper surface with slightly stiff pubescence. Flowers axillary, solitary or 2-3 at apex of peduncle, peduncle of varying length, hairy; bracts 2, linear or leaflike; sepals 5, subequal, narrowly lanceolate, hairy externally; corolla funnelform, 5-10 cm long, blue-purple or purplish-red, corolla tube paler; stamens 5, not exserted, filaments unequal, slightly broadened at base, hairy; pistil 1, ovary glabrous, 3-locular, stigma capitate; capsule subglobose, 0.8-1.3 cm in diameter, 3-valved. Seeds 5-6, ovoid-trigonous, blackish-brown or creamy yellow. Flowering July-September, fruiting August-October. 2. Ipomoea purpurea: Morphologically similar to Ipomoea hederacea, but distinguished by leaf blade being cordate-orbicular or broadly ovate-cordate, usually entire.
Habitat and Distribution
Cracked-leaf Morning Glory is native to the Americas and is commonly cultivated in various regions of China; Round-leaf Morning Glory grows in flatlands up to an altitude of 2800 m on field edges, roadsides, near houses, or in valley forests, either cultivated or wild. It is distributed in most areas of China.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvest the plants in late autumn when the fruits are ripe but the pericarp has not yet split, dry them in the sun, thresh the seeds, and remove impurities.
Medicinal Properties
The seeds are similar to orange segments in shape, slightly triangular with three ridges, 5-7 mm long and 3-5 mm wide. The surface is gray-black (Heichou) or pale yellow-white (Baichou), with a dorsally arched ridge, slightly flattened sides with faint wrinkles, a shallow longitudinal groove in the center of the back, and a nearly round, light-colored hilum at the lower end of the ventral ridge. The texture is hard, and the cross-section reveals two pale yellow or yellow-green, wrinkled and folded cotyledons. When soaked in water, the seed coat becomes cracked like tortoise shell. It has significant mucilage, a faint odor, and a pungent, bitter taste with a numbing sensation on the tongue.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains components such as pharbitin, tiglic acid, chanoclavine, gibberellin, linoleic acid, pharbitic acid C, and caffeic acid.
Pharmacology
Laxative and diuretic effects; stimulates smooth muscle; expels parasites.
Properties and Channel Entry
Bitter, cold; toxic. Enters the Lung, Kidney, and Large Intestine channels.
Functions and Indications
Expels water and promotes bowel movements, eliminates Phlegm and removes Fluid-Retention, kills parasites and reduces accumulation. Used for edema and abdominal distension, obstruction of urination and defecation, Phlegm-Fluid accumulation, Qi counterflow with wheezing and coughing, and abdominal pain due to parasitic accumulation.
Dosage and Administration
Oral administration: decoction, 3-10 g; taken in pill or powder form, 0.3-1 g per dose, 2-3 times daily. Stir-frying moderates the medicinal properties.
Precautions and Contraindications
Contraindicated during pregnancy, use with caution in individuals with weak constitution. Do not take in large doses or for prolonged periods, as this may cause dizziness, headache, vomiting, severe abdominal pain and diarrhea, increased heart rate, muffled heart sounds, speech impairment, sudden fever, hematuria, lumbar discomfort, and even high fever with coma, cold extremities, cyanosis of the lips, generalized cyanosis, and rapid shallow breathing, among other toxic reactions. Do not use concurrently with Badou (Croton tiglium) or Badou cream (processed Croton seed powder).
Prescriptions
1. For edema: Grind Pharbitidis semen into powder. Take one *fangcunbi* (approximately 1-2 g) with water once daily, continue until urination becomes free. (From *Qianjin Yaofang*) 2. For fluid retention with abdominal distension: 120 g of powdered Pharbitidis semen, 30 g of stir-fried Foeniculi fructus (or add 30 g of Saussureae radix). Grind into fine powder. Take 3-6 g with fresh ginger juice before bedtime. (From *Rumen Shiqin*, Yugong San) 3. For wind-heat red eyes: Grind Pharbitidis semen into powder, mix with scallion decoction, and apply to the affected area. (From *Quanzhou Bencao*) 4. For all types of intestinal parasites: 60 g of stir-fried and powdered Pharbitidis semen, 30 g of lightly stir-fried Arecae semen, 50 pieces of lightly stir-fried Quisqualidis fructus (flesh only). Grind all into powder. Take 6 g with sugar water; reduce dose by half for children. (From *Yonglei Qianfang*)
