Mussaenda pubescens (Baihua Tea): Benefits and Effects, Dietary Contraindications, and Related Formulas

Mussaenda pubescens is a tree species with ornamental, medicinal, ecological, and other multiple values. So what morphological characteristics does Mussaenda pubescens have? What benefits and effects does it have? What are the usage and dosage? What are the dietary contraindications? What are the related formulas of Mussaenda pubescens? Let's learn about it together.

I. Morphological Characteristics of Mussaenda pubescens

Climbing shrub, young branches covered with appressed short pubescence. Leaves opposite or whorled, membranous or thinly papery, ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, 5-8 cm long, 2-2.5 cm wide, apex acuminate, base cuneate, upper surface nearly glabrous or sparsely hairy, lower surface densely covered with short pubescence; petiole 3-8 mm long, pubescent; stipules triangular, 4-7 mm long, deeply 2-lobed, lobes subulate, 4-6 mm long.

Cymes terminal, densely flowered; bracts linear, hirsute, about 4 mm long; pedicels very short or absent; calyx tube turbinate, 3-4 mm long, pubescent, calyx lobes linear, usually more than 2 times longer than the calyx tube, base densely pubescent, gradually sparser upward; enlarged calyx lobe (flower leaf) broadly elliptic, 2.5-5 cm long, 2-3.5 cm wide, with 5-7 longitudinal veins, apex obtuse or shortly acute, base narrowed, stalk 1-2.8 cm long, both surfaces pubescent; corolla yellow, corolla tube about 2 cm long, outside covered with appressed short pubescence, inner throat densely covered with club-shaped hairs, corolla lobes oblong-lanceolate, about 4 mm long, acuminate, inner surface densely covered with golden yellow small papillae; style short, included.

Berry subglobose, 8-10 mm long, 6-7.5 mm in diameter, sparsely pubescent, apex with annular scar after calyx limb falls off, black when dry, fruiting pedicel 4-5 mm long, sparsely hairy. Flowering period June-July.

II. Benefits and Effects of Mussaenda pubescens

Nature, flavor, and meridian tropism

Root: sweet and bland in flavor, cool in nature.

Whole herb: bitter in flavor, cold in nature, enters the lung, kidney, large and small intestine meridians.

Effects: Root: dispels wind and releases heat, clears blood and detoxifies, moistens the lung, nourishes the kidney, relieves cough, promotes urination.

Stems and leaves: clears heat and relieves summerheat, cools blood and detoxifies, reduces inflammation, invigorates blood and resolves stasis.

Uses: Root: lung heat cough, postpartum wind, wind within the month, waist and bone aching pain, nephritis edema, mastitis, carbuncle swelling, pediatric malnutrition, malarial fever.

Stems and leaves: common cold with fever, heatstroke, enteritis and diarrhea, summerheat diarrhea, cough, bronchitis, sore swollen throat, tonsillitis, nephritis edema, oral erosion, traumatic injury, sores and swellings.

III. Usage and Dosage of Mussaenda pubescens

Dried product 18.8-37.5 g, decocted in water.

IV. Dietary Contraindications of Mussaenda pubescens

Do not use for those with stomach cold and diarrhea, or use together with astringent intestine medicines.

V. Related Formulas of Mussaenda pubescens

1. Clearing the liver and relieving summerheat

Composition: Mussaenda pubescens root 30.0 g, Rhinacanthus nasutus 18.8 g, Senecio scandens 15.0 g, Salvia plebeia 18.8 g, Vernonia cinerea 18.8 g, Bidens bipinnata 30.0 g

Usage: Decoct 8 bowls of water down to 3 bowls, remove the dregs, add an appropriate amount of black sugar, dissolve and mix well, divide into 3 doses.

2. Nephritis edema

Composition: Mussaenda pubescens root 22.5 g, Bidens pilosa 22.5 g, Ludwigia octovalvis 18.8 g, Plantago asiatica 18.8 g, Orthosiphon aristatus 15.0 g

Usage: Decoct 5 bowls of water down to 2 bowls, divide into 2 doses.

3. Heatstroke-preventing herbal tea

Composition: Mussaenda pubescens vine and branches 15.0 g, Vitex negundo var. cannabifolia leaves 15.0 g, mint 5.0 g

Usage: Grind together into coarse powder, take 3.5 g each time, put into a filter bag, place in a teacup, brew with boiling water, and drink after 5 minutes.

4. Bronchitis, sore throat

Composition: Mussaenda pubescens root 18.8 g, Aerva sanguinolenta 18.8 g, Uraria crinita 30.0 g, Scutellaria barbata 15.0 g, Lobelia chinensis 15.0 g, Ilex asprella root 30.0 g, Bidens bipinnata 30.0 g

Usage: Decoct 6 bowls of water down to 2 bowls, divide into 2 doses.

5. Swelling sores, traumatic bleeding

Composition: Fresh Mussaenda pubescens leaves 18.8 g

Usage: Pound into a paste and apply externally to the affected area.