Pinyin: Guazijin
Aliases
Dinghao, Jinsuoshi, Yuanzhicao, Shanhuanglian
Source
Plant of the Polygalaceae family, *Polygala japonica* Houtt.Polygala japonicaHoutt. dried whole plant.
Botanical Description
Perennial herb, 15-20 cm tall. Stem erect or ascending, greenish-brown or green. Branches cylindrical, with longitudinal ridges, covered with curly short pubescence. Leaves alternate, simple; petiole about 1 mm long, yellowish-brown, with short pubescence; leaf blade papery to subleathery, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 1-2.3 cm long, 5-9 mm wide, green, apex obtuse, base rounded to broadly cuneate, margin entire, revolute, both surfaces nearly glabrous or with short pubescence; midvein impressed on upper surface, with curly short pubescence, lateral veins 3-5 pairs. Flowers bisexual, racemes opposite to leaves, extra-axillary; flowers few, about 7 mm long, with early deciduous lanceolate bracteoles; sepals 5, persistent, outer 3 small, lanceolate, 4 mm long, with short pubescence externally, inner 2 large, petaloid, ovate to oblong, about 6.5 mm long, base clawed; petals 3, white to purple, base connate, lateral petals oblong, about 6 mm long, with short pubescence on inner base, keel boat-shaped, apex dorsally with a laciniate crested appendage; stamens 8, up to 6 mm long, filaments almost completely united into a sheath, lower half adnate to petals, sheath with ciliate margins on both sides, anthers ovate, opening by apical pores; ovary obovate, about 2 mm in diameter, winged, style thick, curved, about 5 mm long, stigma 2, spaced at style apex. Capsule orbicular, green, about 6 mm in diameter, with broad wings, glabrous. Seeds ovate, about 3 mm long, about 1.5 mm in diameter, black, densely covered with white short pubescence. Flowering period April to May, fruiting period May to July.
Habitat and Distribution
Grows on slopes or field ridges at elevations of 800-2100 m. Distributed in Northeast, North, Northwest, East, Central-South, Southwest, and Taiwan regions.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvest in late spring when flowering, remove sediment and sand, and dry in the sun.
Chemical Constituents
The aboveground part of this product contains saponins such as guazijin saponins. The root contains triterpenoid saponins, polygalitol, and tetraacetylpolygalitol.
Pharmacology
It has sedative-hypnotic and hemolytic effects.
Properties and Channel Entry
Acrid, bitter, neutral. Enters the Lung channel.
Functions and Indications
Expels Phlegm, stops cough, activates Blood, reduces swelling, resolves toxicity, and alleviates pain. Used for cough with copious phlegm, swollen and sore throat; externally for traumatic injuries, furuncles, boils, and snake or insect bites.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: Decoct 6-15 g, fresh product 30-60 g; or grind into powder; or steep in wine. External use: Apply appropriate amount, either crushed for poultice or ground into powder and mixed for application.
Prescriptions
1. For phlegm cough: 60 g of *Polygala japonica* whole plant, add an appropriate amount of water, decoct, and take in a single dose. (Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine) 2. For cough: 60 g of *Polygala japonica* (or 15-30 g of root), 30 g of persimmon root, 15 g of *Adenophora tetraphylla*. Decoct and take. (Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine) 3. For whooping cough: 15 g of *Polygala japonica*. Decoct in water, mix with honey, and take. (Guiyang Folk Herbal Medicine) 4. For traumatic injury, furuncle, and carbuncle: Grind *Polygala japonica* to powder. Take 6 g each time, 3 times daily, with yellow rice wine. Also, take an appropriate amount of the powder and mix with yellow rice wine for external application. (Zhejiang Common Folk Herbal Medicine) 5. For knife wounds and bone setting: Grind or mash *Polygala japonica* and apply to the knife wound; for fractures, 30 g of *Polygala japonica*, mash, mix with distiller's grains, and apply externally to the affected area. (Guizhou Herbal Medicine) 6. For arthritis: 60-90 g of *Polygala japonica* root. Decoct in water and take, 1-2 times daily. (Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine) 7. For hematemesis: 15 g of *Polygala japonica*. Decoct in water and take. (Guizhou Herbal Medicine) 8. For insomnia: 15 g of *Polygala japonica*. Decoct in water and take. (Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine)
