What are the effects and uses of Smilax glabra (Tu Fuling)?
We often hear about Fuling (Poria cocos), but what about Tu Fuling? What are the effects and uses of Tu Fuling? Let's take a look together!
The rhizome of Smilax glabra is thick and blocky, often connected by creeping stems; the branches are smooth and thornless. The leaves are thinly leathery, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate to narrowly ovate-lanceolate, with acuminate tips, usually green on the underside, sometimes pale white.
Medicinal value
1. Smilax glabra is sweet and bland in flavor, neutral in nature.
2. Functions of Smilax glabra: detoxification, removing dampness, and freeing the joints. Indications: treating syphilis, strangury with turbid discharge, contracture and pain of the tendons and bones, beriberi, furuncles, carbuncles and swellings, scrofula, and limb contracture and bone pain caused by syphilis and mercury poisoning.
3. Usage and dosage of Smilax glabra: Internal use: decoct in water, 25-50 grams. External use: grind into powder and apply as a paste.
4. Processing of Smilax glabra: Soak in water; change the water once daily in summer, once every 2 days in spring and autumn, and once every 3 days in winter to prevent spoilage; soak until thoroughly penetrated, then remove, slice, and dry promptly.
Main effects
1. Treating syphilis: According to early clinical observation reports, Smilax glabra was used as the main ingredient, combined with honeysuckle and licorice, or with Xanthium sibiricum, Dictamnus dasycarpus and licorice, decocted and taken orally, to treat active and latent syphilis.
2. Treating measles: For prevention, a 100% decoction is taken orally, or made into an injection for intramuscular injection. The above dosage can also be used for treatment.
3. Bone contracture and carbuncle fistula: Use 50 grams of Smilax glabra; add Scutellaria baicalensis and Coptis chinensis if there is heat, add Sijunzi Tang if there is qi deficiency, add Siwu Tang if there is blood deficiency, decoct in water and drink as tea.
4. Ulcerated scrofula: Take sliced or powdered Smilax glabra, decoct in water and take orally, or add it to congee and eat. Eating more is better.
The effects of Smilax glabra
Smilax glabra is sweet and bland in flavor, neutral in nature, and enters the liver and stomach meridians. It has the effects of draining dampness and detoxifying, strengthening the spleen and stomach, protecting the liver, and freeing the joints. "Dian Nan Ben Cao" states: "Treats white turbid urine, and also treats syphilis sores and erysipelas." It also records the use of this herb simmered in water to treat red flooding and white vaginal discharge in women; "Ben Cao Zai Xin" also calls it "removes damp-heat, benefits the tendons and bones." This herb was originally used to treat limb contracture caused by syphilis or by mercury poisoning from taking mercury preparations for syphilis, with excellent results, and is a key herb for treating syphilis.
Smilax glabra is combined with Saposhnikovia divaricata, whose pungent and warm upward-moving nature raises spleen yang and removes dampness from the spleen and stomach; combined with Angelica dahurica, it removes dampness and detoxifies, dissolves turbidity and dispels foulness. The three herbs used together achieve the effects of resolving dampness and detoxifying, strengthening the spleen and benefiting the stomach, and protecting and nourishing the liver.
Modern research has confirmed that Smilax glabra can increase the excretion of blood uric acid and can be used for the prevention and treatment of gout; it also has good effects on other conditions caused by dampness (phlegm) and heat, such as hyperlipidemia and eczema.
Side effects of Smilax glabra: Use with caution in those with liver and kidney yin deficiency. Allergic reactions to this Chinese medicine may occur, with itching all over the skin and scattered red macules and papules of varying sizes. Removing Smilax glabra from the original formula eliminates the allergic symptoms, and adding it back causes the allergic symptoms to reappear.
The difference between Smilax glabra and Fuling: Smilax glabra and Fuling are two different Chinese medicines; Smilax glabra clears heat and detoxifies, while Fuling drains water, drains dampness and strengthens the spleen.
The above is the full content of the effects and uses of Smilax glabra that I have summarized for everyone. I hope this article can help you. Please also continue to follow us.