This product is the root of the plant Berchemia Lineata (Berchemia Lineata (L.) DC.), belonging to the Rhamnaceae family, specifically the Black Catechu genus. It commonly grows on hillsides. It is a perennial vine-like shrub with smooth, reddish-brown stems; the leaves are simple, alternate, oblong, 0.5~1 cm long, green on the surface, and grayish-white on the underside, with a concave tip and small protrusions. In autumn, small white flowers bloom at the tips or in the leaf axils. The fruit is an oblong drupe, about the size of a soybean, turning purplish-black when ripe, sweet and edible. When eaten, it stains the lips and tongue purplish-black, hence the name "Black Mouth." The root is long and curved, with an iron-black outer bark and a golden-yellow inner bark, also known as "supple-jack."

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Sweet and bland, neutral.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Removing blood stasis and relieving pain, soothing the liver and reducing jaundice, regulating the lungs and stopping cough, resolving phlegm, stopping bleeding, and strengthening the middle to treat consumptive thirst and malnutrition.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Removing blood stasis and relieving pain: Used for traumatic pain, wind-dampness pain, migraine, chest and hypochondriac pain, etc.
2. Soothing the liver and reducing jaundice: Used for jaundice-type or non-jaundice-type hepatitis, often combined with wild chrysanthemum flower.
3. Regulating the lungs and relieving cough, resolving phlegm, stopping bleeding: Used for lung subcutaneous nodes, often combined with Radix Cudraniae, stemona root, Liquorice Root, etc.; also used for hemoptysis, hematemesis, can be combined with Taiwan beautyberry leaf, Chinese loropetalum herb; used for phlegm nodes (such as cervical lymph node subcutaneous nodes), can be combined with Prunella, iron wire grass, etc.
4. Strengthening the middle and treating consumptive thirst and malnutrition: Used for infantile stagnation, infantile malnutrition with accumulation, single herb application, quite effective.

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

For internal use, decoct in water for oral administration; for external use, pound and apply topically or decoct in water for washing.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

According to antibacterial tests, this product has inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic streptococcus, Shigella flexneri, and cold-damage disease bacteria.