A little red

Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC is an annual herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family. The roots are vertical. The stems are erect, glabrous or sparsely hairy, gray-green. The leaves are thick, the terminal lobes are large, broadly ovate-triangular, with irregular teeth, and the lateral lobes are oblong, with wavy teeth, dark green above and often purple below; the middle stems and leaves are sparse, small, and sessile; the upper leaves are few and linear. The head inflorescence droops before flowering and stands upright after flowering; the peduncle is thin, without bracts, and the involucre is cylindrical; the involucre is yellow-green, about the same length as the floret, and glabrous on the back. The florets are pink or purple, with slender tubes; the pappus is abundant, white, and soft. The flowering and fruiting period is July-October.

It grows wild in southern, central and southwestern China. It is mild in nature, bitter and slightly spicy in taste, and can cool blood and detoxify. Its tender shoots and leaves are mainly edible, which can be fried, made into soup or used as hot pot ingredients. It has a crisp texture and tastes similar to chrysanthemum. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and dispersing blood stasis, and can also treat urinary system infections, pharyngitis, and poisonous sores.

The efficacy and function of calendula

1. Treatment of upper respiratory tract infection and bronchopneumonia in children with Herba Lysimachiae: mainly using Yidianhong injection (containing 1 gram of crude drug per milliliter) in combination with other symptomatic therapies, a total of 60 cases of upper respiratory tract infection and 26 cases of bronchopneumonia were treated, with the age of 1 to 3 years old being the most. Dosage: 1 to 2 ml per day for children under 6 months old, 2 to 4 ml for children from 6 months to 1 year old, 4 to 6 ml for children from 2 to 3 years old, 6 to 9 ml for children from 4 to 6 years old, 9 to 12 ml for children from 7 to 10 years old, and 12 ml for children over 10 years old, divided into 2 to 3 intramuscular injections. Efficacy: After treatment of upper respiratory tract infection, the body temperature mostly returns to normal in 2 to 3 days, the cough gradually subsides, and the patient is fully cured and discharged in 3 to 4 days; for bronchopneumonia, the body temperature mostly returns to normal in 3 to 4 days, the cough, asthma and lung rales gradually disappear, and the patient is fully cured and discharged in 5 to 6 days.

2. Use the decoction of the whole herb of Ipomoea australis, 0.5 to 1 liang per dose, divided into 2 to 3 times, to treat tonsillitis, pharyngitis, etc.; or use the whole herb with a little salt to mash it and apply it externally to treat mastitis, carbuncle, etc.; the decoction of the whole herb can also be used as a local detergent for vulvar eczema and vaginitis.

Nutritional value of caltrop

The above-ground part contains alkaloids: senkir-kine and doronine. It also contains flavonoids: hyperoside, trifolin, quercitrin, rutin, and quercetin. It also contains triterpenoids: ursolicacid, simiarol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, as well as n-hexacosanol, triacontane, melissicacid, and palmitic acid.

Medicinal value of calendula

1. Treat dysentery and long-term bloody stool: Boil the herb with caltrops and pork. (Records of Herbal Medicine Collection in Lingnan)

2. Treat enteritis and diarrhea: 4 liang of Herba Codonopsis pilosa and 4 liang of Prunus mume. Add appropriate amount of water and boil into 1250 ml. Take twice a day, 50 ml each time. (Guangxi "Prescription Collection of New Chinese Herbal Medicine Treatment Methods")

3. Treat edema: 2 liang of fresh whole herb of caltrop and rush. Decoction in water and take before meals, twice a day. (Fujian Folk Herbs)

4. Treatment of pyelonephritis: 1 jin of chrysanthemum, 1 jin of dog liver grass, and half a jin of plantain. Boil in water until 500 ml. Adults take 10 ml three times a day. (Guangxi "Prescription Collection of New Chinese Herbal Medicine Treatment Methods")

5. Treating early breast abscess in women: Take a handful of fresh calendula stems and leaves, add brown sugar and mash them together, heat and apply to the affected area. (Fujian Folk Herbs)

6. For the treatment of nameless swelling and mouth sores: a handful of fresh Bourdelia officinalis leaves, add brown sugar, mash and apply, change twice a day. (Fujian Folk Herbs)

7. Treat finger carbuncle: mash fresh caltrop with a little sugar and apply to the affected area. (Jiangxi Folk Herbal Medicine Prescription)

8. Treating ear ulcers: Wash fresh caltrops, soak it in boiling water, and then pound it to extract the natural juice. Wash the affected ear first, then pour the juice into the affected ear, two or three times a day, it has the effect of draining pus, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. (Jiangxi Folk Herbal Medicine Prescription)

9. Treating wind-heat cataract: 4 liang of Herba Lycopodii, 1 fen of Prunus mume. Mash them together and apply around the eye sockets. (Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine)

10. To treat throat moth: 3 liang of fresh Herba Lycopodii, decoct in water, and swallow frequently. (Jiangxi Folk Herbal Prescription)

11. Treating upper respiratory tract infection and acute tonsillitis in children: Take equal amounts of Herba Codonopsis pilosae and Herba Codonopsis pilosae. Decoction of each pound of the above medicines to obtain 500 ml of concentrated liquid. For children aged three months to three years, take 20 to 40 ml each time. For children over three years old, increase the amount as appropriate. (Guangxi "Prescription Collection of New Chinese Herbal Medicine Treatment Methods")

12. Treatment of ulcers (mostly on the limbs, with local swelling, burning, blistering, pain and itching, followed by rotting and rapid spread): mash the stems and leaves of fresh Herba Codonopsis pilosa, apply to the affected area, change once a day and once at night. (Jiangxi Folk Herbal Prescriptions)

13. Treat swelling and pain from falls: 8 liang of Herba Lycopodii, 4 liang of Herba Cynoglossi. Mash them together and apply to the affected area. (Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine)

14. To treat infantile malnutrition, take three grams of Rhizoma Corydalis root and steam it with lean pork. (Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine)

Side effects of calendula

Side effects are caused by poor drug selectivity and are inherent in the drug itself. Whether it is a prescription drug or an over-the-counter drug, it should be used under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist. If you feel uncomfortable while taking the drug, you must stop taking it in time and consult a doctor or pharmacist to avoid unnecessary damage.

Contraindications of using caltrop

"Guangdong Traditional Chinese Medicine" II: Use with caution in pregnant women.