Rhododendron

Rhododendrons are among the world's most famous ornamental flowers, blooming every spring with graceful form, brilliant colors, and richly varied petals; they flower uniformly and have a long blooming period. In nature, rhododendrons can form magnificent landscapes. "Why seek famous gardens to view the spring breeze? Mountain flowers along the way never weary the eye. Day after day the Jin River displays its brocade, while the clear stream mirrors the red azaleas in reverse." These are lines of poetry people use to praise the rhododendron. Besides being ornamental, rhododendrons also have certain medicinal value. The flowers, leaves, and roots can all be used as medicine. The flowers contain anthocyanins and flavonols, and have the functions of promoting blood circulation, regulating menstruation, and dispelling wind-dampness. The leaves and young twigs contain flavonoids, fragrant terpenoids, organic acids, amino acids, tannins, phenols, sterols, cardiac glycosides, volatile oils, and more; among the flavonoids are rhodojaponin I and II, rhododendrol, and rhododendrol glycoside. The leaves also contain ursolic acid and *andromedotoxin. Sweet, sour, neutral. Clears heat and detoxifies, transforms phlegm and relieves cough, stops bleeding; treats carbuncles, boils, and sores, traumatic bleeding, bronchitis, and urticaria. The roots contain tannins. Sour, astringent, warm. Promotes blood circulation, stops bleeding, dispels wind, and relieves pain. Treats vomiting of blood, nosebleed, irregular menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding, dysentery, wind-warmth pain, and traumatic injuries. Internal use: decoct in water, 25-50 grams, or steep in liquor. External use: pound and apply. Gather flowers in spring, leaves in summer; dig roots in autumn and winter, dry in the sun for later use, or use fresh.