Pinyin: Bohe
Aliases
Jianzhongxiao, Shuiyimu, Tubohe.
1. Lai.
Internal use: decoct 3-10 g, large dose 10-30 g, or grind into powder and take 1-3 g. External use: appropriate amount, grind into powder and apply.
Plant of the family Lamiaceae, Mentha haplocalyx Briq.Mentha haplocalyxThe dried aerial parts of Briq.
Botanical Description
A perennial aromatic herb, stem erect, 30-80 cm tall. With creeping rhizomes, penetrating up to 13 cm into the soil, brittle, easily broken. Stem sharply quadrangular, much branched, four sides glabrous or with slightly retrorse pubescence. Leaves simple, opposite; petiole 2-15 mm long; leaf blade variable in shape, lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate to elliptic, 2-7 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, apex acute to acuminate, base cuneate to subrounded, margin above base coarsely dentate-serrate, lateral veins 5-6 pairs, upper surface dark green, lower surface pale green, both surfaces pubescent and with yellow glandular scales, denser on lower surface. Verticillaster inflorescences axillary, globose in outline; peduncle with several bracteoles, linear-lanceolate, ciliate; pedicel slender, 2.5 mm long, slightly pubescent or subglabrous; calyx tube-campanulate, 2-3 mm long, externally pubescent and glandular-scaly, 10-veined, calyx teeth 5, narrowly triangular-subulate, about 0.7 mm long, margin ciliate; corolla pale purple to white, corolla limb 4-lobed, inside throat minutely pubescent; stamens 4, anterior pair longer, often exserted or included in corolla tube, filaments filiform, glabrous, anthers ovate, 0.9 mm long, 0.6 mm wide, 2-celled, cells parallel; style slightly exceeding stamens, apex subequally 2-cleft, lobes subulate. Nutlets oblong-ovoid, yellowish-brown or pale brown, with small glandular pits. Flowering July-September, fruiting October-November.
Habitat and Distribution
This text is a habitat and distribution description, not a prescription
Harvesting and Processing
In summer and autumn, when the stems and leaves are lush or the flowers have bloomed to the third whorl, select a sunny day, harvest in batches, and dry in the sun or in the shade.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains L-menthol, isomenthone, pulegone, menthyl acetate, isorhoifolin, menthoisoflavonoside, rosmarinic acid, and other components.
Pharmacology
It has the effect of exciting the central nervous system, dilating skin capillaries through peripheral nerves, promoting sweat gland secretion, increasing heat dissipation, and has diaphoretic and antipyretic effects; locally, it can cause a cold sensation response in the skin and mucous membranes and has a stimulating effect on the skin; it has significant antispasmodic effects, liver-protecting and cholagogic effects, anti-early pregnancy and uterine effects; on the cardiovascular system, it can paralyze the heart and dilate blood vessels; on the respiratory system, it has expectorant effects and good antitussive effects; it promotes transdermal absorption and can be used for anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial purposes.
Properties and Channel Entry
Pungent, cool. Enters the Lung and Liver channels.
Functions and Indications
Disperses Wind-Heat, clears the head and eyes, benefits the throat, facilitates eruption of measles, and soothes the Liver and moves Qi. Used for Wind-Heat common cold, early-stage Wind-Warmth, headache, red eyes, throat obstruction (sore throat), mouth sores, rubella, measles, and distention and stuffiness in the chest and hypochondrium.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoct 3-6 g (do not decoct for long, add near the end of decoction); or made into pills or powder. External: apply appropriate amount, decoct and wash or mash to extract juice for topical application.
Precautions and Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with exterior deficiency and excessive sweating.
Prescriptions
1. For cough and cold in men and women with nasal congestion and hoarse voice: Ye Bohe (wild mint) 6 g, Chenpi (tangerine peel) 6 g, Xingren (apricot kernel, peeled and tip removed) 6 g. Add 15 slices of bamboo leaves, decoct in water and take orally. (From *Diannan Bencao*) 2. For mouth sores: Bohe (mint) and Huangbai (Phellodendron), equal parts. Grind into powder, add a small amount of Qingdai (indigo), and apply to the affected area. (From *Chishui Xuanzhu*, "Fuyan Powder") 3. For bloody dysentery: Decoction of Bohe leaves alone, taken orally. (From *Puji Fang*) 4. For skin rash with itching that does not erupt: Bohe leaves 10 g, Jingjie (Schizonepeta) 10 g, Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia) 10 g, Chantui (cicada slough) 6 g. Decoct in water and take orally. (From *Sichuan Zhongyao Zhi*, 1979 edition) 5. For all types of toothache, especially with wind-heat swelling and pain: Bohe (mint), Zhangnao (camphor), and Huajiao (Sichuan pepper), equal parts. Grind into a fine powder and rub on the affected area. (From *Yixue Tongzhi*, "Ca Ya Ding Tong San") 6. For clearing fire, transforming phlegm, soothing the throat and diaphragm, and treating wind-heat: Bohe powder mixed with honey into pills the size of *Euryale* seeds. Hold one pill in the mouth each time; it can also be mixed with white sugar. (From *Jianbian Dan Fang*) 7. For red and ulcerated eyelid margins: Soak Bohe (mint) in ginger juice overnight, dry in the sun, and grind into powder. Use 3 g each time, steep in boiling water, and wash the affected area. (From *Mingmu Jingyan Fang*) 8. For conjunctivitis: Wash Bohe leaves with cold boiled water, then soak them in milk for 10-30 minutes. Rinse the affected eye with 5% salt water. Place a Bohe leaf over the affected eye, replace with a fresh leaf after 10 minutes, repeat several times daily. (From *Fujian Yaowu Zhi*)
