Liquidambaris Fructus
Aliases：Fēng Shí (Maple Fruit); Fēng Guǒ (Maple Seed); Fēng Xiāng Guǒ (Fragrant Maple Fruit); Fēng Qiú Zǐ (Maple Ball Seed); Fēng Shù Qiú (Maple Tree Ball); Fēng Mù Shàng Qiú (Maple Wood Ball); Jiǔ Kǒng Zǐ (Nine-hole Seed); Jiǔ Kōng Zǐ (Nine-empty Seed); Láng Mù (Wolf Eye); Láng Yǎn (Wolf Eye).
Lù Lù Tōng (Beautiful Sweetgum Fruit) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the dried mature infructescence of Liquidambar formosana Hance, a plant of the Hamamelidaceae family. The fruit is harvested in winter when mature, with impurities removed and dried. It is a collective fruit formed by numerous small capsules aggregated into a spherical shape, with a grayish-brown or brownish surface, covered with many sharp spines. It is light in weight, hard in texture, with a faint odor and bland taste. Lù Lù Tōng was first recorded in the Bencao Gangmu Shiyi (Supplements to the Compendium of Materia Medica) and is named for its ability to unblock the twelve meridians.
Efficacy & Actions
Dispels wind and unblocks collaterals, promotes diuresis, and unblocks menstruation.
Indications
Used for joint pain and bi syndrome, numbness and spasm, edema and distension, scanty lactation, and amenorrhea. It is also used for epigastric and abdominal pain, eczema, urticaria with itching, and traumatic injuries, among other conditions.
Modern Pharmacology
Anti-inflammatory: Possesses anti-inflammatory activity; betulinic acid in methanol extract shows significant anti-hepatotoxic activity. Analgesic: Possesses analgesic effects. Hepatoprotective: Shows hepatoprotective activity. Antioxidant: Shows antioxidant activity. Antitumor: Triterpenoids inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis; liquidambaric acid is the main antitumor component. Antimicrobial and antiviral: Inhibits bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Neuroprotective: Exhibits neuroprotective effects. Antispasmodic: Exhibits antispasmodic effects. Immunomodulatory: May exert anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects by regulating RA-related targets and pathways.
Ingredients
Triterpenoids: Oleanolic acid, ursonic acid, betulinic acid, oleanonic acid, liquidambaric acid, 3α-hydroxy-lup-20(29)-ene-28-oic acid, etc. Sterols: β-Sitosterol. Phenolic acids: Gallic acid, 3,3′-dimethyl ether ellagic acid-4′-O-β-D-xylopyranoside. Aromatic esters: Cinnamyl cinnamate (styracin), l-bornyl cinnamate, epoxystyrene, isoepoxystyrene, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 5–10g. May also be taken as powder, 2–4g per dose. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, ground into powder for sprinkling; or burned for smoke inhalation.
Contraindications
Use with caution (or contraindicated) during pregnancy: Lù Lù Tōng may stimulate the uterus and increase the risk of miscarriage due to its blood-moving and collateral-unblocking effects. Contraindicated in patients with excessive menstruation: Its menstruation-unblocking effect may worsen the condition. Contraindicated in patients with deficiency-cold and metrorrhagia. Contraindicated in patients with yin deficiency and internal heat. Not suitable for internal use in children. The oral dosage should generally not exceed 10g.
Selected Formulas
For rheumatic joint pain (Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica) Take equal parts of Lulutong (Liquidambar fruit), Qinjiao (Gentiana macrophylla), Sangzhi (Mulberry twig), Haifengteng (Piper kadsura), Juluo (Tangerine pith), and Yiren (Coix seed). Decoct in water and drink. For internal hemorrhoidal bleeding (Gu Jin Liang Fang) Take one Lulutong fruit, calcine until charred while retaining its properties, grind into powder, and decoct with wine. Drink. For urticaria (Hunan Materia Medica) Take 500g of Lulutong, decoct into a concentrated liquid. Take 18g (six qian) each time, three times daily, on an empty stomach. For yellow discharge from the ear (Zhejiang Folk Herbal Medicine) Take 15g (five qian) of Lulutong, decoct and drink. For allergic rhinitis (empirical formula) Take 12g Lulutong, 9g each of Cangerzi (Xanthium fruit) and Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia), and 6g each of Xinyi (Magnolia flower) and Baizhi (Angelica dahurica). Decoct in water and drink warm. For insufficient lactation in postpartum women (empirical formula) Take 15g Lulutong, 15g each of Wangbuliuxing (Vaccaria seed), Tudangshen (Codonopsis), and Maidong (Ophiopogon), plus 6g Tongcao (Tetrapanax). Decoct in water and drink.
Daily Consumption
Lù Lù Tōng Tea: Take 5g of Lù Lù Tōng (Beautiful Sweetgum Fruit) and 3g of scented tea. Steep in 200ml of boiling water and drink. Continue to steep until the flavor fades. It helps dispel wind, unblock collaterals, promote diuresis, and eliminate dampness.
Medicinal Parts
Dried mature infructescence.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry place. Store in a dry, airtight container in a dry place, protected from moisture.