Pinyin: Bajitian
Aliases
Baji, Bajitian, Jichangfeng.
Source
Rubiaceae plant Morinda officinalisMorinda officinalisThe dried root.
Botanical Description
A vine-like shrub. Roots fleshy, thick, cylindrical, with irregular intermittent swellings resembling a rosary bead pattern. Stems with fine longitudinal ridges, covered with brown coarse hairs when young. Leaves opposite; petioles with brown coarse hairs; leaf blades long-elliptic, apex shortly acuminate, base obtuse or rounded, margins entire, upper surface dark green, often tinged purple when young, with sparse short coarse hairs; older leaves glabrous (hairless), lower surface with short coarse hairs along the midvein, leaf margins with short cilia; lateral veins 6-7 pairs; stipules membranous, sheath-like. Inflorescence capitate, with 2-10 flowers, borne at branch tips or arranged in umbels; peduncle covered with dirty yellow short coarse hairs; calyx obconical, apex with irregular teeth; corolla white, fleshy, throat constricted, inner surface densely covered with short coarse hairs, mostly 3-lobed, rarely 4-lobed; stamens as many as corolla lobes, inserted near the base of the corolla tube, filaments short; ovary inferior, 4-locular, style slender, 2-lobed, hidden within the corolla. Drupe subglobose, red when ripe. Pyrenes containing 4 seeds, subovoid or obovoid, dorsally convex, laterally flattened, covered with white short pubescence. Flowering period April to July, fruiting period June to November.
Habitat and Distribution
Grows in valleys, stream banks, under sparse mountain forests, or cultivated. Distributed in Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and other regions.
Harvesting and Processing
Can be harvested year-round, wash clean, remove fibrous roots, sun-dry to 60-70% dryness, gently flatten by pounding, then sun-dry completely.
Medicinal Properties
This product is flat cylindrical in shape, slightly curved, of varying lengths, with a diameter of 0.5-2 cm. The surface is grayish-yellow or dark gray, with longitudinal wrinkles and transverse cracks; in some places, the bark is transversely broken revealing the wood. The texture is tough; the bark is thick, purple or light purple, easily separated from the wood. The wood is hard, yellowish-brown or yellowish-white, with a diameter of 1-5 mm. Odor: faint; Taste: sweet, then slightly astringent.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains nystose, methylisoalizarin, methylisoalizarin 1-methyl ether, borneol, physcion, 1,6-dihydroxy-2,4-dimethoxyanthraquinone,β- beta-sitosterol, etc.
Pharmacology
Enhances anti-fatigue ability; anti-inflammatory; increases white blood cell count in the blood.
Properties and Channel Entry
Sweet, acrid, slightly warm. Enters the Kidney and Liver channels.
Functions and Indications
Tonifies Kidney Yang, strengthens sinews and bones, and expels Wind-Dampness
Dosage and Administration
Oral administration: decoct in water, 6-15 g; or made into pills or powders; may also be steeped in wine or prepared as an extract.
Precautions and Contraindications
Contraindicated in cases of Yin deficiency with exuberant Fire and patterns with Damp-Heat.
Prescriptions
1. For deficiency-consumption, impotence (Yang Dao Bu Ju), five strains and seven injuries, various diseases with ability to eat and descending Qi: Badou Tian (Morinda officinalis) and Tu Niu Xi (Achyranthes bidentata) each 3 jin. Soak in 5 dou of wine, remove dregs, warm and take, maintaining a constant wine influence without causing drunkenness or vomiting. (Qian Jin Yao Fang) 2. For impotence (Yang Wei): Badou Tian (Morinda officinalis) 6 g, Bu Gu Zhi (Psoralea corylifolia) 6 g. Decoct in water and take orally. (Gan Su Zhong Yi Yan Fang Ji Jin) 3. For urinary incontinence: Yi Zhi Ren (Alpinia oxyphylla), Badou Tian (Morinda officinalis, core removed, both boiled with green salt and wine), Sang Piao Xiao (Ootheca Mantidis), Tu Si Zi (Cuscuta chinensis, steamed with wine) each equal parts. Grind into fine powder, form into pills with wine-cooked paste, size of Chinese parasol seeds. Take 20 pills before meals, with salt wine or salt water. (Qi Xiao Liang Fang) 4. For unilateral testicular swelling (Pian Zhui): Badou Tian (Morinda officinalis, core removed), Chuan Lian (Melia toosendan, stir-fried), Hui Xiang (Foeniculum vulgare, stir-fried) equal parts. Grind into powder. Take 6 g with warm wine. (Wei Sheng Yi Jian Fang) 5. For Yang decline and Qi weakness, empty essence marrow, withered spirit and haggard appearance, lumbar and knee impotence and paralysis, or women with dry and deficient blood sea, interrupted menstruation, difficulty in bearing children: Badou Tian (Morinda officinalis) 240 g, Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) and Gou Qi Zi (Lycium barbarum) each 120 g, Guang Chen Pi (Citrus reticulata) and Chuan Huang Bai (Phellodendron chinense) each 30 g. All stir-fried with wine, ground into powder, made into pills with refined honey, size of Chinese parasol seeds. Take 9 g each morning and evening with plain water. Suitable for both men and women. (Ben Cao Hui Yan)
