Mussaendae Radix / Dichroae Radix
Aliases：Yù Yè Jīn Huā (Jade-leaf Golden Flower), Ér Huā (Goose Flower); Huáng Cháng Shān (Yellow Changshan), Jī Gǔ Cháng Shān (Chicken Bone Changshan), Jī Gǔ Fēng (Chicken Bone Wind), Fēng Gǔ Mù (Wind Bone Wood), Dà Jīn Dāo (Large Golden Knife); Tǔ Cháng Shān (Earth Changshan), Dà Cháng Shān (Large Changshan), Héng Shān (Constant Mountain); Hù Cǎo (Mutual Grass), Fān Wèi Mù (Stomach-turning Wood), Yī Zhī Lán (Single Blue), Shù Pán Gēn (Tree Plate Root), Bǎi Zǐ Yào (Malaria Medicine); Míng Yè Cháng Shān (Tea-leaf Changshan), Gǒu Gǔ Cháng Shān (Dog Bone Changshan), Nán Cháng Shān (Southern Changshan); Yā Shǐ Cǎo (Duck Excrement Grass), Jī Shǐ Cǎo (Chicken Excrement Grass), Jī Niào Cǎo (Chicken Urine Grass), Jī Gǔ Huáng Shān (Chicken Bone Yellow Mountain), Jī Gǔ Mù (Chicken Bone Wood); Fān Tiān Yìn (Sky-turning Seal), Huáng Cháng Jiàn (Yellow Changjian), Guǒ Bài Niǔ (Fruit Twisting), Yě Lán Zǐ (Wild Orchid), Yī Zhī Lán (Single Orchid), Shǔ Qī (Lacquer), Tián Chá (Sweet Tea), and others.
Bái Cháng Shān is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is the root of Mussaenda pubescens Ait.f. and Mussaenda divaricata Hutch., plants belonging to the family Rubiaceae.
Efficacy & Actions
Induces vomiting of phlegm and saliva; and treats malaria.
Indications
Indicated for phlegm-fluid accumulation, chest and diaphragm fullness and obstruction, and malaria. It may also be used for common cold with fever, headache, sore throat, toothache, rheumatic arthralgia, traumatic injuries, carbuncles and sores, snakebites, hypertension, and neurasthenia.
Modern Pharmacology
Antimalarial effects: The alkaloid components in Changshan (such as α-, β-, and γ-dichroine) exhibit good antimalarial activity. The mechanism of its antimalarial action is the inhibition of glutamate dehydrogenase in the metabolism of Plasmodium. In the 1940s, Chinese scientists Professor Zhang Changshao and Professor Zhao Chenggu, along with their teams, conducted systematic research on the antimalarial effects of dichroine, with their findings published in international journals including Science (1946) and Nature (1948). Anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects: Halofuginone, an important active component of Changshan, exhibits various effects including anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities. Recent studies have found that halofuginone can effectively reduce body weight and improve metabolic health by regulating appetite and energy metabolism. Antipyretic and analgesic effects: Exhibits antipyretic, analgesic, and sedative effects. Antihypertensive effects: Exhibits blood pressure-lowering effects. Antibacterial and antiviral effects: Exhibits antibacterial and antiviral activities.
Ingredients
Dichroines: α-Dichroine, β-Dichroine, γ-Dichroine (mutually tautomeric). Dichroidine. 4-Quinazolone. Dichrin A (umbelliferone). Dichrin B. Dichroidine. The leaves contain approximately 0.5% total alkaloids.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 5–9 g; or 6–10 g; or 3–10 g. May also be made into pills or powders. For external use: apply an appropriate amount, grind into powder and sprinkle on, or mix for topical application.
Contraindications
Has emetic side effects; dosage should not be excessive. Use with caution during pregnancy. Contraindicated in patients with debility without food stagnation and cold-heat (from Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica, 1960 edition). Changshan is potent and aggressive in action, good at expelling pathogens, but it can damage the vital Qi. It should not be used in patients who are even slightly deficient and weak (from Bencao Yanyi Buyi).
Selected Formulas
For malaria caused by miasma with alternating chills and fever, occurring every two or three days (Shengji Zonglu, Changshan Yin) Take 1 liang each of Changshan (Dichroa root, chopped) and Houpo (Magnolia bark, peeled and roasted with ginger juice), 2 pieces each of Caodoukou (Alpinia seed, peeled) and Roudoukou (Nutmeg, shelled), 7 pieces of Wumei (Smoked plum, with pits), and 0.5 liang each of Binlang (Areca seed, chopped) and honey-fried Gancao (Licorice). Coarsely grind and sieve. For each dose, take 2 qian, add 1 cup of water, decoct to 60%, strain, let cool, and take before the onset of the attack. For excess-type malaria in the yang channels (Yijian Fang, Jienue Qibao Yin) Take equal parts of Changshan (stir-fried with wine), Caoguo (Amomum fruit, roasted), Binlang, Houpo, Qingpi (Green tangerine peel), Chenpi (Tangerine peel), and Gancao. Decoct with equal parts of water and wine, leave overnight, and take warm on the day of the attack in the morning. For profuse phlegm in the chest with headache and poor appetite (Buque Zhouhou Fang) Take 4 liang of Changshan and 0.5 liang of Gancao. Add 7 sheng of water, decoct to 3 sheng, add 0.5 sheng of honey. Take 1 sheng; if vomiting does not occur, take another dose. For malaria with chills and fever (Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica) Take Baichangshan (white Dichroa root), Sanhancao (a local herb), Wumei, Niuxi (Achyranthes), Yeyan (a local herb), and Huoxiang (Pogostemon). Decoct in water and drink.
Daily Consumption
Bái Cháng Shān is primarily used for medicinal purposes and has limited daily dietary applications. Due to its emetic side effects, it should not be used as a daily health food ingredient.
Medicinal Parts
Dried root.
Selection & Storage
Store in a ventilated, dry place.
