This product is the mature seed of the Boat-Fruited Sterculia (Sterculia scaphigera Wall.), a plant of the Sterculiaceae family. It is mainly produced in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and also in Hainan Province, China. The mature seeds are collected from the split fruits from April to June and then dried. The best quality seeds are large, brown in color, with fine wrinkles on the surface, slightly glossy, and do not rattle or crack when shaken.

The common counterfeit of Boat-Fruited Sterculia Seed is the seed of the same genus plant, Round Sterculia (S. scaphigera Wall.), which is round or oval in shape, 1.4-2.2 cm long and 1.2-1.6 cm wide. The surface is brown-yellow with a fine mesh texture, containing two thick cotyledons and no endosperm. When soaked in water, it swells slowly, and its volume is 1.2-2 times that of the dry product. The dry product rattles when shaken.

Boat-Fruited Sterculia Seed (herbal decoction pieces)

Boat-Fruited Sterculia Seed (herbal decoction pieces)

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Sweet cold, act on lung and large intestine channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Clearing the lung and resolving phlegm, benifiting pharynx restoring voice, moistening intestines to relieve constipation.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for lung heat causing hoarseness, sore throat, cough, etc. This product is sweet and cold in nature, light in quality, capable of clearing and dispersing lung qi, resolving phlegm, benefiting the pharynx, and restoring voice. It is often taken alone by steeping, or used together with Platycodon Root and Liquorice Root.
2. Used for dryness-heat constipation, headache, and red eyes. This product can moisten the intestines to relieve constipation, clear and purge fire-heat, and can be taken alone by steeping, or combined with heat-clearing and purgative medicinals to enhance efficacy.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Bencao Gangmu Shiyi: "For treating fire-closed sores, taking it will immediately relieve, and it also treats all heat syndromes, fatigue injuries, vomiting, nosebleeds, bloody stools, clears toxins, dispels summer heat, seasonal epidemic red eyes, wind-fire toothache, dry cough without phlegm, steaming bone fever internal heat, triple energizer fire syndrome, effective for all sores."
2. Bencaozheng Yi: "Restoring voice treats hoarseness, soothes coughs, and clears phlegm."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Take 2 to 3 pieces orally, steep in boiling water or decoct and take as a decoction.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains Boat-Fruited Sterculia Seed extract, Astragalus Root mucilage, and astringent substances. The Boat-Fruited Sterculia Seed extract has a contracting effect on vascular smooth muscles, which can improve mucosal inflammation and alleviate spasmodic pain. The aqueous extract promotes intestinal peristalsis and has a mild laxative effect, with the seed kernel being the most potent.