Aristolochia, also known as stinky bell and fairy vine, is a common plant for farmers. Its name ** is due to the fact that the shape of its fruit resembles a bell under a horse's neck. Aristolochia belongs to the Aristolochiaceae family, Aristolochia genus is a perennial winding herbaceous plant with a slender and cylindrical stem, and the whole plant **. Its leaves are opposite, triangular, heart-shaped, very similar to those of purple lily and yam. Aristolochia blooms from June to August, with purple trumpet-shaped flowers growing in the leaf axils. The fruit ripens from August to November and is shaped like a bell, which explodes when ripe.
In addition to being often called Aristolochia, Aristolochia also has some other names, such as Fairy Vine, Snake Ginseng Fruit, Stinky Bell Stall, etc. In ancient pharmacopoeias and folk herbs, aristolochia is widely used in medicine and has high medicinal value. However, in recent years, aristolochic acid has been banned due to its presence of a carcinogen recognized by the WHO, and it was officially removed from the Chinese Pharmacopoeia in 2020. Although Aristolochia is banned in modern times, it is still necessary to understand its medicinal and ornamental value.
Aristolochia is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with medicinal properties in all parts of it. The stem of Aristolochia is known as "Tianxian Vine" in Chinese medicine, while its root is called Aokixiang, and the fruit is the main medicinal part of Aristolochia.
Aristolochia has the effect of clearing the lungs and lowering qi, relieving cough and asthma, and clearing the large intestine. It is recorded in "Materia Medica" that aristolochia can ** damp heat in the lungs, slurred voice, phlegm, wheezing and coughing. According to the records of "Lei Gong Cannon", Aristolochia has a history of about 1,500 years during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Although modern science believes that aristolochic acid is harmful to the liver, in ancient medical classics and folk herbal chronicles, aristolochic acid is considered non-toxic, and there is also a record of aristolochic acid being eaten by the people in the "Materia Medica". At that time, poor farmers would pick the young stems and leaves of Aristolochia to eat when food was scarce.
Although aristolochia cannot be consumed now, we still need to understand its medicinal value, especially in the application of folk herbal medicine.
In addition to its medicinal value, Aristolochia also has a certain ornamental value, so it can be seen in many parks, community green belts and rural courtyards. Aristolochia is often planted in patches, giving it a warm, exuberant feel. In rural areas, farmers like to plant aristolochia next to low fences for greenery, or in their own yards to add vitality and beauty to their families.
Due to the long flowering period and bright color of aristolochia, coupled with its special shape and blooming posture, it gives people a visual enjoyment. Therefore, even though the aristolochia has been disabled, its ornamental value remains.
Aristolochia is a common plant in rural areas, but because it contains aristolochic acid, it is recognized as a first-class carcinogen by the WHO, and it is deleted in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, so everyone must be cautious in the wild and do not eat it. However, aristolochia still has some value in terms of medicinal and ornamental use.
As a Chinese medicinal material, aristolochia was widely used in lung disease and respiratory related diseases in ancient times. Although modern science considers it harmful to the liver, in ancient medical texts and folk herbal texts, aristolochia is considered non-toxic and has played an important role in folk applications.
In addition, Aristolochia is also an ornamental value, and its blooming flowers can be seen in parks, neighborhoods, and rural courtyards, adding a sense of vitality and beauty to the environment.
In the process of understanding aristolochia, we must not only correctly understand its medicinal value, but also understand its prohibition. In the wild, we should carefully identify plants and avoid accidentally eating poisonous plants. Protecting the natural environment and ensuring the health and safety of our lives.