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as scouring rush because of its tough, wiry stems which are used for polishing. Stem evergreen, 0.5-1.0 m., simple or slightly branching, swollen between nodes, very rough, with 10-30 even longitudinal furrows, large central cavity. Leaves reduced to sheaths, short, as wide as long, closely set, awl-shaped, teeth 10-30, scariose, after falling leaving a round black projection lined with a ridge provided with protuberant tubercles in two regular rows. Spikes terminal, 8-15 mm. long by 4-6 mm. across, cone-like, ovoid, compact, pointed, bearing spores. North Temperate Zone.
The stems, after having been stripped of their sheaths, are ground to a powder for medicinal use. The taste of the drug is bittersweet and astringent. The plant contains silica, starch, a volatile oil and resin, and equisetic (aconitic) acid. Its action is hemostatic and diuretic.120
Used internally as an astringent hemostatic in dysentery, enterorrhagia, hemorrhoidal hemorrhage. Dose, 5-10 gm. Externally, in cataplasm for hemorrhoids and anal fistulae; as ophthalmic lotion in treatment of epiphora, leukoma.
GYMNOSPERMAE: Ginkgoales
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GINKGO BILOBA L. (Ginkgoaceae) |
| The only living representative of the order Ginkgoales, once a widely distributed group throughout the Mesozoic Era. It is a tall, resinous tree, growing to 35 m. Leaves deciduous, alternate, lengthily petiolate, fan-shaped, bilobate, base wedge-shaped, 6-9 cm. broad, turning yellow in autumn; venation dichotomously branching, seemingly parallel. Staminate and ovulate strobuli on separate trees; staminate strobuli consisting of naked pairs of anthers in catkin-like clusters; ovulate strobuli in the form of long, slender, fused stalks bearing a single naked ovule which is fertilized by motile sperm cells, developing into two seeds. Seeds yellow when mature, foul-smelling, drupe-like, the middle layer of integument becoming hard, the outer layer fleshy. China. (Syn. Salisburia adianthifolia Smith., S. macrophylla C. Koch) | |
| The ripe fruits, macerated in vegetable oil for 100 days, have been used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in China, but there has not been sufficient indication to classify the drug as specific. The outer fleshy portion of the fruit is very stimulating to the epidermis and mucous membrane, inducing inflammation and exanthema. The kernels are used as aliment in China, however large amounts may be toxic, inducing convulsions, pyreticosis, emesis, and dyspnea. | |
| The kernels are used as astringent, sedative, antitussive in asthma. Dose, 5-10 gm., shelled and cooked. The outer pulp of the fresh fruit is employed as vesicant. |
GYMNOSPERMAE: Coniferales
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THUJA ORIENTALIS L. (Pinaceae) |
| A shrub pyramidal in form, the branches compressed. Leaves opposite, small, scaly, imbricate, those of the extreme twigs obtuse, those of the larger branches acute or awl-shaped. Flowers monoecious, in catkins, April; male flowers globular, isolated, stamens 3-6; female flowers terminal. Cone ovoid, 1.5-2.5 cm. long, scales 6, spines oval-obtuse; two seeds per scale, ovoid, brownish; August-September. China, Japan, India. (Syn. Biota orientalis Endl.B. chinensis Hort., Thuja chinensis Hort.) Both the leaves and the seeds are employed medicinally. The plant contains a volatile oil comprising pinene and caryophyllene; the bitter principle pinipicrin C22H18O11; thujin C20H22O12, a yellow, astringent and crystallizable coloring principle; tannin; resin. The taste of the leaves is bittersweet and astringent; that of the seeds, sweetish. The leaves are employed as astringent, antipyretic, emmenagogue. Dose, 5-10 gm. The seeds are used as sedative in neurasthenia, palpitation, insomnia; as lenitive in enterostenosis. Dose, 5-15 gm. |
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TORREYA GRANDIS Fortune (Taxaceae) |
| An evergreen tree growing to 20 m., branches yellowish green at 2 years. Leaves stiff, 1.5-2.5 cm. long, nearly round at the base, acute, prickly at the tip, surface lightly convex, dark green, underside marked with 2 discolored streaks, median vein indistinct above. Flowers dioecious; the male in catkins formed of stiff imbricate scales; the female in pairs, axillary, globular, surrounded with 4 large scales, a single terminal ovule. Fruit oblong-elliptical; September. Central China. (Syn T. nucifera var. grandis Pilger.) The seeds are elongate, pointed at the tip, round at the base, 35 mm. in length, 15 mm. in diameter, of a light brown color. They contain a large amount of fatty oil, torreyol, which comprises linoleic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. Injected into the lymphatic sac of frogs, the oil induces motor inhibition, paralysis, and death.70 The oil acts as a nerve poison. An infusion of the seed is anthelmintic to Ascaris, Enterobius, Taenia, and Ancylostoma. The seeds are employed as vermifuge. Dose, 10-35 gm. |
GYMNOSPERMAE: Gnetales
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EPHEDRA SINICA Stapf. (Gnetaceae) |
| Ma Huang. An erect or prostrate undershrub, 30-50 cm. tall. Branches erect, short, glaucous green, somewhat flat, 1.0-1.5 mm. thick, lightly striate lengthwise, fasciated at the nodes. Leaves opposite, reduced to scales barely 2 mm. Male flowers pedunculate or nearly sessile, grouped in catkins composed of 4-8 pairs of flowers with about 8 anthers; female flowers biflorous, pedunculate with 3-4 pairs of scales. Fruit red, globular, fleshy, 6-7 mm. long. Northern China, Mongolia, Europe. (Syn. E. distachya L.) The roots and stems contain up to 1 % of the alkaloid ephedrine C10H15NO, along with variable quantities of isomers. Ephedrine dilates the bronchi, stimulates the respiratory center, and acts as a preventive in bronchial asthma.16 Its vasoconstrictive action shrinks congested mucous membrane. The heart muscle is stimulated, inducing palpitation and hypertension; the blood pressure is raised. It stimulates the cerebral cortex and results in nervous excitability. A 1-2% solution produces mydriasis when applied locally to the iris. The stem and root are used in bronchial asthma, hay fever, trachitis. Dose, 3-10 gm. (E. equisetina Bunge. is also employed.) |
ANGIOSPERMAE Monocotyledonae
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ALISMA PLANTAGO L. (Alismaceae) |
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Water plantain, a perennial marsh herb 0.1-1.0 m. tall. Stem erect. Leaves basal, petiolate, simple, lanceolate, base cordate or round. Inflorescence in verticillate divisions, large, paniculate, bracteal. Flowers red or white, small; May-September; sepals 3; petals 3, larger than the sepals; stamens 6; carpels numerous, laterally compressed. Seeds glossy, compressed laterally. Northern Hemisphere. (Syn. A. cordifolia Thunb.)
The root is officinal. It occurs as ovoid, whitish, with circular depressions. The taste is bitter. It contains a highly volatile oil, 23 % starch, and a very acrid resin.151 An extract of the root increases urinary excretion.50 The drug is believed by the Chinese to stimulate the female genitalia.146
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