This product is the whole herb of the plant Dutohmanspipe Fruit family, forbes wildginger (Asarum forbesii Maxim.). It is distributed in Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, southern Henan, and eastern Sichuan. The entire plant is harvested between April and June, with the soil removed and dried in the shade, avoiding direct sunlight.

Forbes wildginger was first recorded in the Mingyi Bielu, classified as a middle-grade herb. Su Gong stated: "The leaves resemble those of the sunflower, shaped like a horse's hoof." Su Song said: "It is now found in the Jianghuai region. In early spring, sprouts emerge from the perennial roots, with leaves resembling the shape of a horse's hoof, two to three inches tall, and stems as thick as wheat straw. Each cluster has five to seven leaves, or sometimes eight to nine, with no additional branches. Purple flowers grow close to the ground in the gaps between the stems and leaves, almost invisible, and bear fruit as small as beans, containing tiny seeds similar to henbane seeds. Both the sprouts and leaves are green, but wither after frost. The roots become hollow, resembling a dense broom, four to five inches long, thicker than Asarum, and slightly yellowish-white in color, with a pungent taste. In the Jianghuai region, it is commonly known as 'horse hoof fragrance'." Based on the above descriptions of the plant's morphology, origin, and referencing the illustrations in the "Zheng Lei Materia Medica" and "Bencao Gangmu," it is believed to be consistent with the forbes wildginger found in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and other regions today.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Acrid, warm.

bubble_chart Efficacy

bubble_chart Indications

Wind-cold headache, joint pain, phlegm-fluid retention causing cough and asthma, traumatic injuries, snake bites, dental caries pain, and mouth and tongue sores.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Qianjin Yifang: "Japan Pollia, pungent in taste, slightly warm, non-toxic. It primarily treats rebellious qi in the chest and hypochondrium, warming the middle, wind entering the back of the head, swelling and pain in the head, excessive nasal discharge and tears, dizziness and blurred vision, relieves pain and eliminates fetid mouth odor. Long-term use benefits the eyes, lightens the body, and enhances memory. Also known as Japan Pollia, Du Lian, Bai Lian, Bai Qin, and Ruo Zhi. It grows in the river valleys of Wuling and Yuanju, and the roots are harvested in February and August, then dried in the sun." "Japan Pollia, pungent and warm, non-toxic, primarily treats wind-cold cough and rebellious qi, and its fragrance adheres to clothing and body. It grows in mountain valleys, and the roots are harvested on the third day of the third month, thoroughly washed, and dried in the sun."
2. Shennong Bencao Jing: "Japan Pollia, also known as Japan Pollia. Pungent in taste, slightly warm, non-toxic. It treats rebellious qi in the chest and hypochondrium, warming the middle, wind entering the back of the head, swelling and pain in the head, excessive nasal discharge and tears. Long-term use benefits essence, improves vision, and lightens the body. It grows in river valleys."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

1.5-3g. For external use, apply an appropriate amount by grinding into powder and sprinkling, or by mashing fresh product and applying topically.

The whole plant of Forbes wildginger contains volatile oil. The oil mainly contains methyleugenol, cis-isomethyleugenol, trans-isomethyleugenol, borneol, isoborneol, safrole, elemicin, and kakuol. The volatile oil content of samples produced in Hubei is 2.6%, with a refractive index n²⁰_D1.5322.

The methyleugenol in the volatile oil of Forbes wildginger has significant central inhibitory effects.