Platycarya strobilacea, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the leaves of Platycarya strobilacea Sieb. et Zucc., a plant in the genus Platycarya of the family Juglandaceae. It has detoxifying, anti-itching, and antiparasitic effects. It is used to treat boils, abscesses, and toxic swellings, as well as scrotal eczema and chronic tinea.
Platycarya
Platycarya strobilacea, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the leaves of Platycarya strobilacea Sieb. et Zucc., a plant in the genus Platycarya of the family Juglandaceae. It has detoxifying, anti-itching, and antiparasitic effects. It is used to treat boils, abscesses, and toxic swellings, as well as scrotal eczema and chronic tinea.
Chinese Name : 化香树
Aliases : Mountain Willow Leaves, Small Fragrant Tree, Willow Tree, Ricewood Tree, Mountain Hemp Willow
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Pungent, warm. Heart and Spleen meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Detoxifies, relieves itching, and kills parasites.
Indications
Used for boils, abscesses, and toxic swellings; scrotal eczema; and chronic tinea.
Usage and Dosage
For external use, apply an appropriate amount; decoct in water for washing, or rub tender leaves on the affected area. Burning the plant produces smoke that repels mosquitoes; adding it to latrines or sewage can eliminate maggots and mosquito larvae.
Precautions
Not for internal use.
Pharmacological Actions
The stems and leaves have an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Relevant Discussions
From *Folk Medicines of Guizhou*: “To treat a bone abscess that has been oozing pus for a long time without healing and contains multiple bone fragments: pound half a jin of Huaxiangshu leaves into a paste and soak in cold water; immerse the affected area in the medicinal solution for several hours; use tweezers to remove the bone fragments, then wash the area with the medicinal solution.”
Applications
Related Compatibility
Acute inflammatory conditions such as boils, carbuncles, and abscesses: Take equal parts of fresh Huaxiangshu leaves, Tripterygium leaf, celery leaves, and garlic, pound them into a paste, and apply externally. Do not use once the ulcer has ruptured. (*Formulas for Common Chinese Herbal Medicines*)
Notes
The fruit clusters (fruits of the Huaxiang tree) of this plant are also used medicinally. They are pungent and warm in nature, and serve to promote blood circulation, regulate qi, relieve pain, kill parasites, and relieve itching. They are suitable for treating internal injuries causing chest distension, trauma, joint and bone pain, abscesses, damp sores, and scabies. Internal use: Decoct 10–20 g. External use: Wash with the decoction; or grind into a powder and apply as a poultice.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Can be harvested year-round; wash thoroughly and use fresh or sun-dry.
Processing Methods
Remove impurities and sun-dry.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
The pinnate compound leaves are often incomplete; the petioles and rachis are relatively thick and pale yellowish-brown.The leaflets are often shriveled and fragmented; intact ones are broadly lanceolate, 4–10 cm long and 2–3 cm wide, with a long, acuminate apex, an oblique base that is slightly sickle-shaped, and double-serrated margins. The upper surface is grayish-green, and the lower surface is yellowish-green. The leaf blades are thin and leathery, and easily broken. They have a faint, refreshing aroma and a mild taste. Those with numerous leaflets, a green color, and a refreshing aroma are considered superior.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
A species of the genus *Cinnamomum* in the family *Juglandaceae*.
Morphological Characteristics
A deciduous shrub or small tree, 5–15 m tall. Young branches are usually covered with brown tomentum. Odd-pinnate compound leaves are alternate; there are 7–23 leaflets, arranged oppositely and sessile;The leaf blades are thin and leathery, ovate-lanceolate to long-elliptic-lanceolate, 4–12 cm long and 2–4 cm wide, with an apex gradually tapering to a fine point, a broad cuneate base that is slightly oblique, and double-serrated margins; the upper surface is dark green, the lower surface yellowish-green; they are densely hairy when young or smooth when mature, with tufts of hair only in the axils of the veins.It flowers in summer and fall; the flowers are unisexual, with male and female flowers on the same plant; the inflorescences are spicate, erect, and arranged in corymbs at the tips of the twigs. The central, terminal inflorescence is usually a bisexual inflorescence, with the female inflorescence below and the male inflorescence above; after flowering, the male inflorescence falls off, leaving only the female inflorescence.The bracts of the male flowers are lanceolate, pale yellowish-green, and lack small bracts and perianth segments; there are 8 stamens. The female flowers have one ovate-lanceolate bract, lack small bracts, and possess 2 perianth segments adnate to the ovary; there is 1 pistil, without a style, and the stigma is 2-lobed.The fruit spike is ovate-elliptic to long-ellipsoidal, 2.5–5 cm long and 2–3 cm in diameter; the bracts are persistent, membranous, and brown; the nutlets are flat, round, and bear three narrow wings. The seeds are ovate, with a membranous seed coat. Flowering occurs from May to June, and fruiting from July to October.
Distribution Area
Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Guangxi.