Radish Tree

Radermachera sinica, a medicinal plant in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the roots, leaves, or fruits of Radermachera sinica (Hance) Hemsl., a plant belonging to the genus Radermachera in the family Bignoniaceae. It is distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, and other regions. It has the effects of relieving summer heat and detoxifying, as well as dispersing blood stasis and reducing swelling. It is primarily used to treat heatstroke-induced fever, abscesses and swellings, fractures from falls or blows, and venomous snake bites.

Chinese Name : 菜豆树

Aliases : Bean Tree, White Crane Ginseng, Oxtail Tree, Bean Wood, Bone-Setting Cool Umbrella, Dalang Umbrella, Great Morning Sun, Forest Wood Lang Umbrella

Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Bitter in taste, cold in nature

Benefits & Efficacy

Benefits

It has the effects of clearing summer heat, detoxifying, dispersing blood stasis, and reducing swelling.

Indications

It is primarily used to treat heatstroke-induced fever, abscesses and swellings, fractures from falls or blows, and venomous snake bites.

Usage and Dosage

1. Internal use: Decoct 9–15 g in water. 2. External use: Pound into a paste and apply as a poultice; or decoct in water for washing.

Precautions

Patients requiring treatment with Chinese herbal medicine should first consult a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospital to receive a prescription following a professional TCM differential diagnosis.

Relevant Discussions

1. *Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine*: Dispels blood stasis and reduces swelling; clears heat and detoxifies.

2. Guangzhou Air Force *Manual of Common Chinese Herbs*: Cools the blood and dispels blood stasis; reduces swelling and relieves pain. Treats high fever with headache, stomach pain, sprains and contusions, fractures, boils and abscesses, and venomous snake bites.

Applications

Clinical Applications

1. For heatstroke-induced fever: An appropriate amount of fresh leaves of the cowpea tree, decocted in water and used for washing the entire body. (*Medicinal Herbs of Guangxi*)

2. For trauma and contusions: 30–60 g of the root of the bean tree. Decoct in water or steep in wine and take orally. (*Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine*)

3. For venomous snake bites: Pound the leaves or fruit of the bean tree into a paste and apply it to the fontanelle on the head (after shaving the hair). (*Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine*)

Notes

References: 1. *Identification and Application of Commonly Used Chinese Medicinal Herbs in Clinical Practice* 2. *Chinese Materia Medica* 3. *Encyclopedia of Guangxi’s Chinese Medicinal Resources: Pingle Volume* 4. *Color Atlas of Quanzhou Materia Medica*

Processing & Preparation

Harvesting & Processing

The roots can be harvested year-round; wash them, slice them, and sun-dry them. Leaves are harvested in summer and fall, and fruits in fall; use them fresh or sun-dry them.

Storage Methods

Store in a dry place.

Crude Drug Identification

Properties of Crude Drugs

Leaves are opposite, with two to three times odd-pinnate compound leaves; leaflets are opposite, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, with a caudate acute apex, a nearly rounded base, entire margins, and green and glabrous on both surfaces.

Botanical Information

Botanical Classification

A plant of the genus Cissus in the family Bignoniaceae.

Morphological Characteristics

A deciduous tree, 5–12 m tall. The root is straight, with thick, white root bark. The bark is rusty black, and branches and leaves are clustered at the top of the trunk. Leaves are opposite, 2–3-pinnately compound; leaflets are opposite, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 2–9 cm long, 1–3.5 cm wide, with a caudate acute apex, a nearly rounded base, entire margins, and green and glabrous on both surfaces.Inflorescences are terminal racemes; the corolla is white, long-tubular, 12–14 cm long, with 5 lobes. The fruit is long-cylindrical, resembling a pod, up to 50–80 cm long, pendulous, splitting longitudinally into two sections when ripe, containing numerous membranous seeds. Flowering occurs in summer.

Distribution Area

Distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, and other areas.

Radermachera sinica, a medicinal plant in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the roots, leaves, or fruits of Radermachera sinica (Hance) Hemsl., a plant belonging to the genus Radermachera in the family Bignoniaceae. It is distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, and other regions. It has the effects of relieving summer heat and detoxifying, as well as dispersing blood stasis and reducing swelling. It is primarily used to treat heatstroke-induced fever, abscesses and swellings, fractures from falls or blows, and venomous snake bites.