Huafengchezi, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the roots or leaves of Combretum alfredii Hance, a plant in the genus Combretum of the family Combretaceae. It is distributed in Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and other regions. The roots have the effects of clearing heat and promoting bile secretion, and are used to treat jaundice-type hepatitis; the leaves have anthelmintic effects and are used to treat ascariasis and trichuriasis; fresh leaves are applied topically to treat burns and scalds.
Huafengchezi
Huafengchezi, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the roots or leaves of Combretum alfredii Hance, a plant in the genus Combretum of the family Combretaceae. It is distributed in Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and other regions. The roots have the effects of clearing heat and promoting bile secretion, and are used to treat jaundice-type hepatitis; the leaves have anthelmintic effects and are used to treat ascariasis and trichuriasis; fresh leaves are applied topically to treat burns and scalds.
Chinese Name : 华风车子
Latin Name : Combretum alfredii Hance
Aliases : Water Peach, Cooling Tree, Four-Corner Wind
Authentic Producing Area : Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Taste: sweet, bland, slightly bitter; Nature: neutral; Enters the Stomach and Small Intestine meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
(Root) Clears heat, promotes bile secretion; (Leaves) Expels parasites.
Indications
Used for (root) jaundice-type hepatitis; (leaves) ascariasis and trichuriasis. Fresh leaves are applied topically to treat burns and scalds.
Usage and Dosage
Root: 15–30 g. Leaves: 9–18 g, or 30 g of fresh leaves. For external use, crush fresh leaves and mix with rice-washing water to apply as a poultice.
Precautions
Not yet established.
Pharmacological Actions
Antibacterial activity.
Applications
Related Compatibility
1. Ascariasis and trichuriasis: 9–18 g of Hua Fengchezi leaves, or 30 g of fresh leaves; decoct twice in water and take on an empty stomach. (*Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine*)
2. Treatment of burns: Pound fresh Hua Fengchezi leaves into a paste, mix with rice-washing water, and apply topically. (*Selected Compendium of Guangxi Materia Medica*)
Notes
The leaves of the related species Combretum micranthum G. Don contain alkaloids—combretine, choline, and nicotine—as well as vitexin, oxalic acid, malic acid, and free cinnamic acid, among others.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Harvest in autumn and winter; wash and use fresh, or slice and dry in the shade.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
Leaves are elliptical to oblong, 10–18 cm long and 5–8 cm wide. The upper surface is yellowish-green, with a gradually tapering apex and a wedge-shaped or bluntly rounded base; the margin is entire. The lower surface may have sparse hairs along the veins; under a magnifying glass, it appears densely covered with small, white, round, raised spots. Light in texture. Odorless; bland in taste.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
*Fengchezi* (genus *Fengchezi*, family *Euphorbiaceae*)
Morphological Characteristics
An erect or climbing shrub, 1.5–5 m tall. Young branches are longitudinally grooved and densely covered with yellowish-brown tomentum. Simple leaves are opposite, with petioles 0.7–1.5 cm long; leaf blades are thick papery, elliptic to oblong, 10–18 cm long and 5–8 cm wide, with the veins on the underside sometimes bearing sparse hairs.Flowers in summer; spike-like inflorescences are axillary and terminal, with the terminal inflorescences forming a corymb; the inflorescence axis is covered with yellowish-brown tomentum;the bracteoles are linear; the flowers are bisexual, about 5 mm in diameter; the calyx is funnel-shaped, with short hairs and scales on the outside and a yellow, glossy ring of hairs on the inside, which protrude above the calyx throat; the calyx is 4–5-lobed at the apex; there are 4–5 petals, narrowly obovate, about 2 mm long, with a stalk at the base; there are 8 stamens;ovary inferior, slightly 4-angled. Samara nearly circular or elliptical in outline, about 2 cm long, with 4 wings; wings about 1 cm wide, covered with yellow or orange-yellow scales, turning red or purplish red when ripe. Flowering period: March–August; fruiting period begins in September.
Distribution Area
Distributed in Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and other areas.