Cycadis Strobilus
Aliases：Su Tie Hua, Feng Wei Jiao Hua, Feng Wei Song Hua, Bi Huo Jiao Hua, Tie Jia Song Hua, Suo Luo Hua
Tie Shu Hua is one of the aliases of Su Tie Hua (Cycas flower). It is the flower of Cycas revoluta Thunb., a plant of the Cycadaceae family.
Efficacy & Actions
Regulate qi to eliminate dampness, activate blood to stop bleeding, and tonify the kidney to astringe essence.
Indications
Stomach pain, rheumatic arthralgia (bi pain), hematemesis, hemoptysis, traumatic injury, dysmenorrhea, leukorrhea, spermatorrhea, etc.
Modern Pharmacology
Anti‑inflammatory and analgesic: Effective for rheumatic joint pain and traumatic injury. Hemostatic (bleeding control): The leaf acts as an astringent and stops bleeding; can be used for various bleeding disorders. Antitussive: The flower has antitussive and analgesic effects. Antitumor: Contains cycasin (cyasine) as well as neocycasin A and B, which exhibit anticancer activity.
Ingredients
Flavonoids: Hinokiflavone, amentoflavone, dihydrohinokiflavone (with antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory effects). Glycosides: Cycasin, neocycasin A, neocycasin B, trigonelline (with certain pharmacological activities). Nucleosides: Adenine, choline (involved in energy metabolism and enhance immunity). Organic acids: Malic acid, tartaric acid (regulate acid‑base balance and promote metabolism). Others: Proteins, carbohydrates, fatty oils, starch, amino acids, inorganic salts (provide nutrients).
Usage & Dosage
Standard internal use: 15–60 g of dried herb in decoction. External use: Appropriate amount, ground into powder and applied as a paste, or crushed and applied topically.
Contraindications
Use with caution during pregnancy: Due to its blood‑activating effect, it may stimulate the uterus and cause miscarriage. Contraindicated in cold patterns: Not suitable for cases of spleen‑stomach deficiency cold or cold‑type cough (with white phlegm and chills). Incompatibility with alkaline drugs: Should not be used together with alkaline medications, as this may reduce efficacy. Toxicity prevention: This product may be mixed with seeds containing the toxic compound cycasin. Accidental ingestion may cause poisoning symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and convulsions. Do not pick or consume the plant without professional guidance.
Selected Formulas
1. For stomach pain and chronic gastritis Ingredients: Cycas flower 15 g, dandelion (Taraxaci Herba) 30 g, aged tangerine peel (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 6 g. Usage: Decoct in water, one dose per day. Indication: Epigastric distension and pain, chronic gastritis. 2. For rheumatic arthralgia and joint pain Ingredients: Cycas flower 30 g, clematis root (Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma) 15 g, mulberry twig (Mori Ramulus) 15 g. Usage: Decoct in water, divide into two doses, one dose per day. Indication: Rheumatic joint pain, numbness of the limbs. 3. For hematemesis and hemoptysis Ingredients: Cycas flower 20 g, bletilla tuber (Bletillae Rhizoma) 10 g, lotus node (Nelumbinis Nodus Rhizomatis) 15 g. Usage: Decoct in water, strain, and take warm, twice daily. Indication: Hemoptysis due to lung heat, hematemesis due to stomach heat. 4. For traumatic injury with swelling and pain due to blood stasis Ingredients: Cycas flower 30 g, notoginseng powder (Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 6 g (to be taken separately). Usage: Decoct Cycas flower in water, then mix with notoginseng powder and take orally, one dose per day. Indication: Traumatic injury, swelling and pain due to blood stasis. 5. For dysmenorrhea and irregular menstruation (blood stasis type) Ingredients: Cycas flower 15 g, motherwort (Leonuri Herba) 20 g, Chinese angelica (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 10 g. Usage: Decoct in water, start taking 3 days before menstruation, continue for 5 days. Indication: Dysmenorrhea due to blood stasis, irregular menstruation with dark purple clots. 6. For spermatorrhea and leukorrhea Ingredients: Cycas flower 20 g, Cherokee rose fruit (Rosae Laevigatae Fructus) 15 g, euryale seed (Euryales Semen) 15 g. Usage: Decoct in water, one dose per day. Indication: Spermatorrhea due to kidney deficiency, leukorrhea due to spleen deficiency. 7. For infantile convulsion (febrile convulsion) Ingredients: Cycas flower 6 g, honeysuckle flower (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos) 10 g, gambir stem (Uncariae Ramulus cum Uncis) 6 g. Usage: Decoct in water, give in small amounts multiple times. Indication: High fever with convulsion in children (febrile seizure).
Daily Consumption
Stewed Pig Trotters with Cycas Flower Ingredients: Cycas flower (Sago palm flower) – 20 g Pig trotters – 1 piece Fresh ginger – 5 g Scallion – 5 g Table salt – 3 g Monosodium glutamate (MSG, optional) – 2 g Cooking wine (Shaoxing wine) – 5 ml Preparation: Wash the Cycas flower. Blanch the pig trotters in boiling water, then cut into pieces. Place the Cycas flower, pig trotters, ginger, scallion, and cooking wine in a pot. Add an appropriate amount of water. Stew until the pig trotters are fully cooked and tender. Add salt and MSG to taste. Action: Regulates qi and removes stasis, activates blood and stops bleeding.
Medicinal Parts
megasporophyll (female flower)
Selection & Storage
English translation: Store in a cool, dry, well‑ventilated place.