Wikstroemiae Radix
Aliases：Nán Lǐng Ráo Huā (South China Wikstroemia); Dì Mián Pí (Cotton Root Bark); Shān Mián Pí (Mountain Cotton Bark); Dì Mián Gēn (Cotton Root); Shān Dòu Liǎo (Mountain Bean Knotweed); Què Er Má (Sparrow Hemp); Jī Zǐ Má (Chicken Seed Hemp); Shān Huáng Pí (Mountain Yellow Bark); Qiān Nián Ǎi (Thousand Year Dwarf); Tiě Gǔ Sǎn (Iron Bone Umbrella); Dú Yú Téng (Fish Poison Vine); Jiǔ Xìn Cài (Nine-Trust Vegetable); Shān Má Pí (Mountain Hemp Bark); Pǔ Yín (Puyin); Jiǎ Huáng Pí (False Yellow Bark); Zhǐ Má Pí (Finger Hemp Bark); Shí Mián Pí (Stone Cotton Bark); Xiāo Shān Yào (Digesting Mountain Yam); Dà Huáng Tóu Shù (Big Yellow Head Tree); Dú Chú Gēn (Poison Removing Root); Dì Gǔ Gēn (Ground Bone Root); Qī Má Gēn (Seven Hemp Root); Bié Nán Gēn (Unique South Root); Dú Shǔ Gēn (Solitary Potato Root); Gǒu Xìn Qiāng (Dog Trust Rhizome); Shān Yàn Pí (Mountain Swallow Skin); Shān Pǔ Lún (Mountain Puren); Gǒu Xìn Yào (Dog Trust Medicine); Jiǔ Xìn Cǎo (Nine-Trust Herb); Tóng Pí Zǐ (Tung Bark Seed); Xiǎo Jīn Yāo Dài (Small Gold Belt); Gē Chūn Guāng (Brother Spring Light); Hóng Chì Qī (Red Red Seven).
Liǎo Gē Wáng is a Chinese medicinal substance. It is the dried root, root bark, or stems and leaves of Wikstroemia indica (L.) C. A. Mey., a plant of the Thymelaeaceae family.
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat, detoxifies, resolves phlegm, disperses nodules, reduces swelling, relieves pain, and disperses stasis to promote diuresis. Being bitter, cold, and draining, it is adept at clearing heat toxins, reducing swelling, and dispersing nodules, making it a key herb for treating sores, carbuncles, and scrofula caused by heat-toxin accumulation.
Indications
Used for carbuncles, sores, and toxic swellings; scrofula; rheumatic pain; traumatic injuries; and snake and insect bites. It is also used for pneumonia, bronchitis, mumps, laryngitis, lymphadenitis, mastitis, carbuncles and toxic swellings, rheumatoid arthritis, edema with distension, leprosy, and amenorrhea.
Modern Pharmacology
Antitumor: Methanol extract of stems shows 97% inhibition rate against EAC; daphnoretin inhibits nucleic acid and protein synthesis in EAC; genkwanin, arctigenin, and matairesinol exhibit anti-leukemia activity. Anti-inflammatory: Daphnoretin significantly inhibits xylene-induced ear edema and 5-HT-induced paw swelling. Antibacterial and antiviral: Active against various bacteria, HBV, HIV, and influenza virus. Myocardial blood supply improvement: Daphnoretin increases nutritional blood flow to the myocardium. CNS depression: Prolongs thiopental-induced sleep time and antagonizes methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity. Tumor-promoting potential: Ether extract induces EBV early antigen, suggesting possible tumor-promoting activity.
Ingredients
Coumarins: Daphnoretin, wikstroemin, genkwanin, hydroxy-genkwanin, etc. Flavonoids: Tricin, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, etc. Lignans: Wikstrol, arctigenin, lohongrosin, pinoresinol, etc. Steroids: β-sitosterol, 7-keto-β-sitosterol, stigmastane-3,7-diol, etc. Other Components: Diarylheptanoids, polysaccharides, acidic resins, volatile oils, sesquiterpenes, phenolic polymers, biflavonoids, saponins, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 6–9g. It must be decocted for a prolonged period (at least 4 hours) to reduce toxicity. For root use, the dosage is 10–15g. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, mashed for application; ground into powder and mixed for external application; or decocted in water for washing.
Contraindications
Decoction for oral use: Take 6–9g of Liǎo Gē Wáng (Wikstroemia indica), decoct in water (must be decocted for at least 4 hours to reduce toxicity), and drink the liquid. Topical application as a poultice: Take an appropriate amount of fresh Liǎo Gē Wáng stems and leaves, mash them, and apply externally, or extract the juice and apply to the affected area. It may be used for sores and toxic swellings, traumatic injuries, and snake or insect bites.
Selected Formulas
For phlegm-fire scrofula (Lingnan Herbal Medicine) Take 5 qian of leaves of Liaogewang (Wikstroemia indica), add a little salt, crush together, and apply to the affected area. For knee joint tuberculosis (Hunan Materia Medica) Take Liaogewang and Jiegucao (Sambucus chinensis). Decoct in water, mix with wine, and drink. For sores and acute mastitis (Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take an appropriate amount of Liaogewang leaves, crush and apply to the affected area. For mumps (empirical formula) Take 120g of Liaogewang root, 120g of Tuyinhua (a local herb), 500g of Shichanchu (a local herb), and 500g of Changgaogen (a local herb). Grind together into powder. When needed, mix with water and apply to the affected area. For mastitis (empirical formula) Take appropriate amounts of the inner bark of Liaogewang root, Ranunculus root, and glutinous rice flour. Crush together and apply to the affected area.
Daily Consumption
Decoction for oral use: Take 6–9g of Liǎo Gē Wáng (Wikstroemia indica), decoct in water (must be decocted for at least 4 hours to reduce toxicity), and drink the liquid. Topical application as a poultice: Take an appropriate amount of fresh Liǎo Gē Wáng stems and leaves, mash them, and apply externally, or extract the juice and apply to the affected area. It may be used for sores and toxic swellings, traumatic injuries, and snake or insect bites.
Medicinal Parts
Dried root, root bark, or stems and leaves.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry container in a well-ventilated, dry place.
