Pinyin: Longliye
Aliases
Longsheye, Niuerye, Longliye.
Source
Plant of the Euphorbiaceae family, LongliyeSauropus spatulifoliusDried leaf of Beille.
Botanical Description
A small evergreen shrub, up to 40 cm tall. The branchlets are slightly zigzag-shaped with inconspicuous fine pubescence. Leaves are simple and alternate, often clustered at the branch tips; petioles short; stipules triangular, turning straw-yellow with age; leaf blades ovate-lanceolate to obovate-lanceolate, entire, dark green above, pale green below, the base of the midvein initially sparsely pubescent, becoming glabrous later. Flowers are clustered in leaf axils or arranged in a very short raceme; flowers unisexual, monoecious, dark purple; pedicels short; male flowers have smaller and slightly thicker calyces, similar in shape to female flower calyces, anthers elliptical, slightly thick, somewhat protruding; female flowers have slender styles, 2-branched. The capsule has a short stalk, resembling a pea in shape. The persistent calyx is nearly as long as the fruit.
Habitat and Distribution
Mostly cultivated or grows in valleys, on moist and fertile hillsides, and in forests. Distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi and other regions.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvested in summer and autumn, then dried in the sun.
Medicinal Properties
This product is in the form of clustered or elongated strips that are wrinkled. When flattened, it presents as long-ovate, ovate-lanceolate, or obovate-lanceolate shapes. The surface is yellowish-brown, yellowish-green, or greenish-brown, measuring 5-9 cm in length and 2.5-3.5 cm in width. The apex is bluntly rounded with a slight concavity and a small pointed tip; the base is cuneate or slightly rounded; the margin is entire or slightly wrinkled into a wavy form. On the lower surface, the midvein is prominently raised on both sides, occasionally with soft hairs at the base; lateral veins are pinnate, 5-6 pairs, merging into a marginal vein near the outer edge; the petiole is short. Odor: faint; Taste: mild, slightly sweet.
Chemical Constituents
This product mainly contains amino acids, polypeptides, proteins, and other components.
Properties and Channel Entry
Sweet and bland, neutral. Enters the Lung and Stomach channels.
Functions and Indications
Moistens the Lungs, stops cough, and unblocks the bowels. Used for dry Lung cough, sore throat and loss of voice, and constipation.
Dosage and Administration
Internal use: decoction, 6-15 g.
Prescriptions
1. For phlegm-fire cough: decoct Longliye (Sauropus spatulifolius) with pork and take the soup. (Lingnan Caiyao Lu) 2. For acute bronchitis, upper respiratory tract inflammation, and bronchial asthma: Longliye (Sauropus spatulifolius) 6-12 g (fresh 9-30 g). Decoct in water and take orally. (Guangzhou Military Unit, Changyong Zhongcaoyao Shouce)
