What Are the Five Major Benefits and Effects of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Millettia reticulata for Nourishing and Activating Blood, and How Much Does One Jin Cost?
Millettia reticulata is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with high medicinal value. It is named for its vine sap, which resembles chicken blood. It mainly grows in forests below 1800 m in altitude and has the effect of activating blood and resolving stasis. So what are the benefits and effects of Millettia reticulata and its dietary contraindications? How much does one jin cost?
I. Introduction to Millettia reticulata
Millettia reticulata, also known as Guomilong, Xuefengteng, Zhuxueteng, Daxueteng, and other names, is the vine stem of the legume plant Spatholobus suberectus. Its main producing areas are Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces and regions of China. It is mostly harvested in autumn and winter, with branches and leaves removed, cut into slices or sections, and sun-dried.
Millettia reticulata is cylindrical, with a grayish-brown outer surface. Where the cork layer has fallen off, it is reddish-brown and has longitudinal grooves. Its cross-section shows a pale red xylem, with irregularly arranged small pores, and resinous secretions on the inner side of the phloem that are reddish-brown or blackish-brown. Its most obvious medicinal characteristic is that it alternates with the xylem in an eccentric semicircular ring arrangement. It has a small pith that is one side. The texture is solid and not easy to break, and the fracture surface has irregular splinter-like pieces. The odor is slight, and the taste is astringent.
II. Benefits and Effects of Millettia reticulata
Nature, flavor, and meridian entry of Millettia reticulata: bitter, sweet, warm; enters the liver and kidney meridians.
Functions and indications of Millettia reticulata: nourishes blood, activates blood, and unblocks collaterals.
1. Effect one: activates blood and relaxes tendons
Millettia reticulata is warm in nature and slightly sweet. After sun-drying, it has the function of unblocking meridians and activating collaterals; limb numbness, hand and foot paralysis, rheumatic arthralgia, and joint pain caused by poor flow of qi and blood can all be treated by using Millettia reticulata. It is often used in combination with medicinal materials such as Honghua, Taoren, Chishao, Dilong, Huangqi, Danggui, and Danshen.
2. Effect two: nourishes blood and regulates menstruation
Another effect of Millettia reticulata is regulating qi and blood. Gynecological diseases commonly seen in women, such as irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, and dysmenorrhea, can also be treated by using Millettia reticulata.
3. Effect three: treats anemia
Millettia reticulata has the effects of nourishing blood and activating blood. After taking it, it can improve the body's blood-forming capacity and is very effective for people with anemia symptoms.
4. Effect four: treats coagulation and cardiovascular sclerosis
Millettia reticulata also has a good effect on coagulation and lowering blood pressure, so it can be used to treat high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and heart-related conditions.
5. Effect five: anti-cancer effect
From the perspective of Western medicine, Millettia reticulata can reduce the activity of certain viruses. When the white blood cells in the body decrease, Millettia reticulata can be used, and it has a very good effect in improving body immunity, so it has a certain auxiliary role in resisting tumors.
III. How to Use Millettia reticulata
1. Millettia reticulata for low back pain and leukorrhea
Materials: Millettia reticulata 30 g, Jinyinggen, Qianjinba, Duzhongteng, Hanliancao each 30 g, add Dangshen 15 g if necessary
Usage: 1 dose per day, decocted and taken twice
2. Millettia reticulata for amenorrhea
Materials: Millettia reticulata and Chuanposhi each 20 g
Usage: decoct in water and take, 1 dose per day
3. Millettia reticulata for anemia
Materials: Millettia reticulata 60-120 g, eggs 2-4, red dates 10
Usage: add 8 bowls of water and decoct to a bit more than half a bowl (after the eggs are cooked, remove the shells and put them in to decoct again). Take the eggs together with the medicinal liquid, 1 dose per day
4. Millettia reticulata for rheumatic arthralgia:
Materials: Millettia reticulata 15 g, Banfenghe, Danggui, Fengxiang Jisheng, Haifengteng, Douchijiang each 15 g, Niuxi 9 g
Usage: decoct in water and take
Note: If you need to take Millettia reticulata, you should still drink it under a doctor's guidance.
IV. Dietary Contraindications of Millettia reticulata
1. Millettia reticulata can activate blood and relax tendons, nourish blood and regulate menstruation, and so on, so it is suitable for most people to eat.
2. Millettia reticulata activates blood and enters the liver, so people with yin deficiency and hyperactive fire, pregnant women, and diabetic patients are not suitable to take it.
3. People allergic to Millettia reticulata should not take it.
4. Millettia reticulata has the effect of activating blood, so women with heavy menstrual flow should not take it, but Millettia reticulata has a certain therapeutic effect on irregular menstruation and amenorrhea.
Every medicine has some toxicity. Although Millettia reticulata has many benefits, it should also be taken in moderation. Taking too much can cause certain damage to the body, so it should still be taken according to a doctor's guidance.
V. How much does Millettia reticulata cost per jin?
The recent market for Millettia reticulata has been relatively stable. At present, the market price for imported good-quality Millettia reticulata is 7 yuan. Yun County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province is one of the producing areas of Millettia reticulata. At present, hand-cut slices are sold at around 2.5 yuan, and machine-cut slices are sold at around 3.5 yuan.
For Millettia reticulata, its medicinal value is still quite high. As a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, it can activate blood and relax tendons; as an ornament, it can also ward off evil, nourish blood, and regulate menstruation, and it also has a certain auxiliary effect on some diseases.