Southwest Buttercup, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the aerial parts of the plant Southwest Buttercup (Ranunculus ficariifolius Lévl. et Vaniot) of the Ranunculaceae family. It is distributed in northern Yunnan, Guizhou, southwestern Sichuan, and western Hubei. It has the effects of draining dampness and reducing swelling, relieving pain and killing parasites, and arresting malaria. It is used to treat malaria.
Southwest Buttercup
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All references in this article to TCM syndrome differentiation, herbal medicines, teas, and decoctions are intended to promote TCM culture and are provided solely for educational and reference purposes.
Southwest Buttercup, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the aerial parts of the plant Southwest Buttercup (Ranunculus ficariifolius Lévl. et Vaniot) of the Ranunculaceae family. It is distributed in northern Yunnan, Guizhou, southwestern Sichuan, and western Hubei. It has the effects of draining dampness and reducing swelling, relieving pain and killing parasites, and arresting malaria. It is used to treat malaria.
Chinese Name : 西南毛茛
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Pungent in taste, warm in nature. Enters the Liver and Spleen meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
It drains dampness and reduces swelling, relieves pain, kills parasites, and cures malaria.
Indications
Used to treat malaria.
Usage and Dosage
External use: Apply an appropriate amount, pounded and applied to the affected area or acupoints.
Pharmacological Actions
It has the effect of relieving intestinal smooth muscle spasms.
Relevant Discussions
*Sichuan Chinese Herbal Medicine*: “Applying the stems and leaves to acupoints can treat malaria; applying them to the navel can treat abdominal pain and hernia pain.”
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Can be harvested year-round; typically used fresh.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
The whole plant is 10–30 cm long; roots sometimes grow from the lower nodes. Basal and cauline leaves are broadly ovate or nearly rhomboid, 0.5–3 cm long, with shallowly toothed or nearly entire margins; they are glabrous or bear appressed soft hairs and are yellowish-green; petioles are 1–4 cm long, with a sheath-like base.Flower stalks are opposite the leaves; flowers are 8–10 mm in diameter, with ovate sepals; there are 5 oblong petals. The aggregate fruit is nearly spherical, 3–4 mm in diameter; the achenes are ovoid-spherical, approximately 1.5 mm long, somewhat flattened on both sides, and bear small wart-like projections. It has a faint odor and a bitter, pungent taste.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
Southwest Ranunculus of the Ranunculaceae family.
Morphological Characteristics
Annual herb. Fibrous roots are slender and clustered. The stem is ascending and inclined, nearly erect, 10–30 cm tall, with numerous nodes; roots sometimes arise from lower nodes; the stem is densely pubescent or glabrous.Basal leaves resemble cauline leaves; leaf blades are entire, broadly ovate or nearly rhomboid, 0.5–2(–3) cm long, 5–15(–25) mm wide, with an acute apex, a cuneate or truncate base, and margins bearing 3–9 shallow teeth or nearly entire; glabrous or with appressed soft hairs;petioles 1–4 cm long, glabrous or pubescent, sheathing at the base. Cauline leaves numerous; the uppermost leaves are smaller, lanceolate, with short to absent petioles. Flowers 8–10 mm in diameter; pedicels opposite the leaves, 2–5 cm long, slender and curved downward, with appressed soft hairs; sepals ovate, 2–3 mm long, usually glabrous, spreading;There are 5 petals, oblong, 4–5 mm long, twice as long as wide, with 5–7 veins, rounded or slightly notched at the apex, and bearing a narrow claw 0.5–0.8 mm long at the base; the nectar groove is punctate on the upper part of the claw; anthers approximately 0.6 mm long; the receptacle is finely pubescent.The aggregate fruit is nearly spherical, 3–4 mm in diameter; the achenes are ovoid-spherical, about 1.5 mm long and 1.2 mm wide, somewhat flattened on both sides, with wart-like small projections, and a short, straight or curved beak about 0.5 mm long. Flowering and fruiting occur from April to July.
Distribution Area
It is distributed in northern Yunnan, Guizhou, southwestern Sichuan, and western Hubei.
Copyright: Excerpt from Internet, Copyright belongs to the Original Author and all original sources, This article was shared by DeDe on July 31, 2026, Please credit the source and include a link to the original article when reposting.
Terminology Proofreading: [Cheng Bo] | July 31, 2026 Reviewed by: [Wang Zhongxiang, Associate Chief TCM Physician (China)] | July 31, 2026
Correct Content Errors: Errors may occur during the writing, editing, translation, and publication of website content. If you find any errors or inaccurate information in this article, please feel free to Contact Us to report them, and we will correct them promptly.
FDA Disclaimer: The descriptions of the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicines, herbal teas, decoctions, and formulas, as well as the content on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnostic theory and traditional TCM therapies contained on this site, are intended solely for the purpose of popularizing TCM culture and serving as an educational reference; they do not constitute medical diagnosis or treatment advice. Please do not attempt to use these products on your own without proper guidance. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are experiencing any physical discomfort, please consult a licensed healthcare professional and seek treatment at a reputable medical institution. This platform assumes no responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use of herbs or formulas by any individual based on the information provided on this site. Please read Medical Disclaimer.
