alfalfa

alfalfa

(bielu)

[synonyms] Mu Xun (notes filled by Guo in Er Ya), Mu Su (Er Ya Yi), Huai Feng, Guang Feng, Lian Zhi Cao (Miscellaneous records of Xijing), Guang Feng Cao (compendium).

[source] it is the whole grass of leguminous plant Medicago sativa or Medicago australis.

[plant morphology] 1

Perennial perennial herbs. The taproot is 2-5 meters long. Rhizome developed; with or without vines, stem 30-100 cm high, erect or creeping, smooth, many branched, about 15-25 branches. Leaflets obovate oblong, 2-2.5cm long, serrate at the tip only; middle rib protruding at the tip of leaflets; petioles long and smooth; stipules large. Pedicel from leaf axils, flowers with short stalks; 8-25 flowers form clusters of racemes; calyx bell shaped, 5 teeth; corolla purple. The pod is spirally shaped, 2-3-circled, slightly hairy, dark brown, not dehiscent. Seeds 1-8, reniform, yellowish brown, very small. The flowering period is from May to June.

Born in the wilderness and in the field. It is widely distributed and cultivated in most areas of China.

② South alfalfa, also known as: broccoli, grass head, mother Qitou, yellow flower grass, Mopan grass, yellow flower.

Herbs annual or biennial. Leaflets broadly ovate or obcordate, apex slightly rounded or concave, upper serrate, lower cuneate. The flowers are yellow. The pod is spiral, without deep groove, with protuberances and sparse spines.

It is distributed in the middle and south of China and cultivated in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

The roots of the above two plants (Medicago ruthenica L.) are also used for medicine. Please refer to the special section for details.

[collection] harvest in summer and autumn, dry in the sun, or fresh.

[chemical constituents] Medicago sativa contains saponin, lutherol, alfalfa phenol, comistol, formononetin, daidzein and other isoflavone derivatives, alfalfa element, citrulline and concanavalic acid. The protein content was 21.8-37.6% and sugar content was 4.0-9.5% by dry weight. Rotten grass contains alfalfa phenol.

The leaves contain β - methyl-d-glucoside, 4-o-methyl mesoinositol and l-galactoheptanose. In addition, both leaves and stems contain pectin acid.

The flower contains anthocyanins: the blue and purple flowers of Alfalfa mainly contain 3,5-diglucoside, petuniacin and malvacaine; the volatile components of flowers are linalool, myrcene and limonene

The seed contains stachydrine, stachydrine and sialic acid.

South alfalfa contains carotene.

[pharmacological action] Medicago sativa L. has relaxant effect on isolated guinea pig intestines, but does not cause distention in sheep. At the concentration of 0.00002, alfalfa element could significantly inhibit the contraction of isolated rabbit small intestine. The peristaltic contraction was slowed down by injecting 4 mg alfalfa into the small intestine of rabbits. Methylmedicin itself has no obvious effect on isolated rabbit small intestine, but it can slightly antagonize the effect of Medicin if it is added into the bath tube first. The use of fresh alfalfa leaves as feed may cause severe distention in animals. Too much air pressure in the stomach may oppress the diaphragm and blood vessels, causing the animals to suffocate and die. Medicago sativa also has mild antioxidant effect, can prevent the oxidation of adrenaline, and has mild estrogen like effect. The extract of the whole herb can inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and it is effective for poliomyelitis in mice. The animals fed with the variety of Medicago sativa var. australis can produce photoallergic dermatitis.

Bitter and smooth.

① Bielu: "it tastes bitter, flat and nontoxic. "

② Qianjin Shizhi: "bitter, smooth, astringent, non-toxic. ?

③ Rihuazi materia medica: "cool. "

④ Bencao Yanyi: "slightly sweet, light. "

Functions and indications: clear spleen and stomach, benefit small intestine, lower bladder stones.

① Meng Shen: "it benefits the five internal organs, washes away the evil Qi between the spleen and stomach, and all kinds of evil heat and poison. "

② "Rihuazi Materia Medica" says: "remove the stomach to store evil Qi, heat Qi between the spleen and stomach, and unblock the small intestine. "

③ Ben Cao Yan Yi: "benefit the small intestine. "

④ Modern practical Chinese medicine: "treating urinary acid bladder stones. "

[usage and dosage] take orally: mash juice, 3-5 Liang; grind powder, 2-3 yuan.

[selection] ① treatment of bladder stones: three to five liang of fresh South alfalfa, mashed juice. (manual of Chinese herbal medicine by Su Yi)

② Treatment of edema: alfalfa leaf five money (Research end), a piece of tofu, lard three Liang. Stew once and take continuously. (Jilin Chinese herbal medicine)

Chinese PinYin : Mu Xu