Pinyin: Hujisheng
Aliases
Dongqing, Liu Jisheng, Hu Ji, Huang Jisheng
Source
Plant of the Loranthaceae family, *Viscum coloratum* (Kom.) NakaiViscum coloratumDried leafy stems and branches of (Kom.) Nakai.
Botanical Description
Shrub, 30-80 cm tall. Stems and branches cylindrical, dichotomous or trichotomous, rarely polychotomous, nodes slightly swollen, internodes of branchlets 5-10 cm long, irregularly wrinkled when dry. Leaves opposite, rarely 3-whorled; petiole short; leaf blade thick leathery or leathery, oblong to elliptic-lanceolate, 3-7 cm long, 0.7-2 cm wide. Apex rounded or obtuse, base attenuate; basal veins 3-5. Dioecious; inflorescences terminal or axillary at fork of stem; male inflorescence cymose, involucre boat-shaped, usually 3-flowered, central flower with 2 bracts or absent; male flowers with 4 sepals; anthers elliptic; female inflorescence cymose-spicate, 3-5-flowered, terminal flower with 2 bracts or absent, opposite flowers each with 1 bract; female flower buds ovoid-oblong, receptacle ovoid, sepals 4; stigma papillose. Berry globose or ellipsoid, with persistent style, pale yellow or orange-red when mature, pericarp smooth. Flowering April-May, fruiting September-November.
Habitat and Distribution
It grows in broad-leaved forests at altitudes of 300-2000 m, parasitizing on elm, willow, poplar, oak, pear, plum, apple, Chinese wingnut, alder, and other plants. It is distributed in Northeast, North, East, and Central China, as well as Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Taiwan, and Guangxi.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvested from winter to the following spring by cutting with a knife, removing thick branches, bundling into small bundles, or briefly blanching in boiling water (to prevent discoloration), then dried in the shade or sun-dried.
Medicinal Properties
This product is cylindrical in shape, with branch tips bearing leaves or shedding leaves, approximately 30 cm long, with thick branches about 1 cm in diameter and thin branches 2-6 mm in diameter; nodes are swollen, with 2-3 forked branches or branch scars at the nodes; stems and branches are easily broken off and shed at the nodes, with internodes 2-9 cm long. The surface is golden yellow, yellowish-green, or yellowish-brown, smooth and glabrous (hairless), with distinct irregular longitudinal wrinkles. It is light in weight, pliable and tough in texture, not easily broken; the fracture surface is uneven, with a yellow bark, a lighter-colored wood exhibiting radial striations, and a small pith that often leans to one side. Leaves are oblanceolate or oblong, with 5 basal veins, golden yellow to yellowish-green, with wrinkles; they are leathery and thick, slightly pliable. The odor is faint, and the taste is slightly bitter with a sticky, mucilaginous sensation when chewed. Those with tender branches, a yellowish-green color, and abundant leaves are considered superior.
Chemical Constituents
Contains viscumneoside I-VI, syringin, 3'-methylrhamnetin, 1,8-cineole,β-Acetyl amyrin,β- β-amyrin and other components.
Pharmacology
It lowers blood pressure, exhibits a dilating effect on coronary arteries, significantly increases coronary blood flow, slows heart rate, and shows an initial inhibitory followed by an enhancing effect on myocardial contractility; it has anti-platelet aggregation effects, and also possesses anti-tumor and other actions.
Properties and Channel Entry
Bitter, neutral. Enters the Liver and Kidney channels.
Functions and Indications
Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, strengthens the sinews and bones, expels Wind and Dampness, and calms the fetus. Indications: soreness and pain in the lower back and knees, Wind-Dampness impediment pain (Bi syndrome), threatened miscarriage, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, dizziness and blurred vision, and weakness of the sinews and bones.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoct in water, 10-15 g; or made into pills or powder; steep in wine or pound to extract juice. External use: appropriate amount, pound and apply as a compress.
