Mallotus barbatus
Aliases：Shān Tóng Zǐ (literally "Mountain Tung Tree"), Chòu Zhāng Mù (literally "Stinky Camphor Wood"), Zǐ Kāng Mù (literally "Purple Bran Wood"), Yuán Xié (literally "Round Shoe"), Zhū Zǐ Kāng Mù (literally "Pig Purple Bran Wood"), Dà Mǎ Sāng Yè (literally "Big Horse Mulberry Leaf"), Hóng Diào Fú (literally "Red Hanging Fortune"), Chén Shā Mù (literally "Sinking Sand Wood"), Zhū Dù Mù (literally "Pig Belly Wood"), and Hóng Máo Tóng Zǐ (literally "Red Hairy Tung Seed"). (These are all alternative names for Máo Tóng, i.e., Mallotus japonicus var. ochraceo-albidus or Mallotus barbatus.)
Máo Tóng is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is the root or stem bark of Mallotus japonicus (Thunb.) Muell.Arg. var. ochraceo-albidus (Muell.Arg.) S.M.Hwang or Mallotus barbatus (Wall.) Muell.-Arg., plants belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. It is recorded in Guizhou Minjian Yaowu (Folk Medicines of Guizhou).
Efficacy & Actions
Promotes blood circulation, detoxifies, and reduces swelling. In Zhuang medicine, it is also recorded as clearing heat toxins, removing dampness toxins, regulating the digestive tract, and promoting diuresis.
Indications
Fractures, bone tuberculosis (known as "Ba Gu Huang" in folk medicine), and rabies (dog bites). In addition, the root known as "Dà Máo Tóng Zǐ Gēn" is used to treat lung‑heat with hematemesis, damp‑heat diarrhea, painful urination, and leukorrhea.
Modern Pharmacology
Anti‑inflammatory effects: Extracts from the stem of Máo Tóng exhibit in vitro anti‑inflammatory activity. Other potential activities: Its chemical constituents suggest possible antibacterial, anti‑tumor, and antiviral effects.
Ingredients
Preliminary chemical tests indicate that the root of Máo Tóng may contain polypeptides, carbohydrates, saponins, tannins, organic acids, flavonoids, phenols, coumarins, and other chemical components.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 15–30 g. For topical application: appropriate amount, mashed and applied to the affected area.
Selected Formulas
For fractures (Guizhou Folk Medicines) Take 60-90g of Shantongzi (Mallotus barbatus, also known as Maotong) root, crush it, and apply as a poultice to the affected area. For tuberculous osteomyelitis (Guizhou Folk Medicines) Take 60-90g of Shantongzi root, crush and apply to the affected area. For rabies bites (Guizhou Folk Medicines) Take 30-60g of the inner bark of Shantongzi, cook with glutinous rice into congee and eat.
Medicinal Parts
Root or stem bark.
Selection & Storage
Store in a cool, dry place, protected from moisture and insects.
