Capparis spinosa

Capparis spinosa

(commonly used Chinese herbal medicine in Sichuan)

[synonym] dachigai.

[source] it is the root of artichoke.

[plant morphology] Cirsium japonicum

Herbs perennial, up to 1.5 m tall. The roots are thick and white. Stem erect, with distinct longitudinal grooves, sparsely curly villous. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate, 15-40 cm long, pinnate and deeply split at the edge, oval triangular lobes, with needles at the top, small eyelashes and serrations at the edge, wide at the base, extending downward into ear shape, green or dark green above, gray white below, densely covered with white arachnoid hairs. The leaves on the upper part of the stem gradually become smaller. Inflorescence, stem and branch ends; involucre 1-4 rows, the outer layer of the shortest, lanceolate, gradually extended inward, linear lanceolate, with small white spines at the upper end; all bisexual flowers; corolla tube slender, 5-lobed; stamen 5, corolla tube expanded, anthers united into a cylinder; style apex 2-lobed. Achene, oblong or cylindrical, yellow red corolla when dry. The flowering period is from May to June. The fruit period is from July to August.

Born in the roadside grass in the sun. It is distributed in Sichuan and other places.

[collection] the roots were collected in autumn and dried in the sun.

Bitter and smooth.

Functions and indications: cooling blood, promoting diuresis, dispelling wind and tonifying deficiency. For hematemesis, lower blood, edema, weakness, traumatic injury, carbuncle, swelling, prurigo and scabies,

[usage and dosage] oral administration: decoction, 1-2 Liang.

Chinese PinYin : Ci Gai Cao