What are the uses of loofah vines?

We all know that loofah has certain effects and functions, so what are the uses of loofah vines?

Luffa vine【Source】

It is the stem of the Cucurbitaceae plant loofah or Guangdong loofah.

Loofah vine【collection】

Harvested in summer and autumn. [Chemical composition] Luffa vine contains saponin.

【Pharmacological action】

① Antitussive and expectorant effect: Oral administration of luffa vine decoction, luffa vine fresh juice and methanol extract of vine and leaves to mice all had a certain antitussive effect (sulfur dioxide or ammonia cough induction method). Oral administration of 5 g/kg luffa vine decoction to anesthetized dogs had no significant effect on the secretion of respiratory mucus. Oral administration of methanol extract of luffa vine and leaves to mice had a significant effect of increasing the secretion of phenol red in the respiratory tract (phenol red method). ② Antibacterial effect: Luffa vine powder decoction and alcohol extract had a weak inhibitory effect on common bacteria in the respiratory tract, and a slightly stronger effect on pneumococcus. Fresh luffa vine juice had no antibacterial effect.

【Nature and flavor】

"Ben Cao Qiu Yuan": "bitter, slightly cold, slightly toxic."

[Meridian] "Bencao Zaixin": "Enters the heart, spleen, and kidney meridians."

【Function and indications】

Relaxes muscles, activates blood circulation, strengthens the spleen, and kills insects. Treats numbness of the waist, knees, and limbs, irregular menstruation, edema; tooth exposure, sinusitis, and tooth opening. ① "Compendium of Materia Medica": "The vine and its root can treat tooth exposure, brain leakage, kill insects and detoxify." ② "Ben Cao Qiu Yuan": "Regulates blood vessels, promotes tendons and collaterals, nourishes water, stops genital pain, replenishes the middle and strengthens the spleen, and eliminates edema. Treats blood deficiency, numbness of the waist, knees, and limbs, postpartum convulsions, and regulates menstruation." ③ "Lingnan Collection of Medicinal Materials": "Relieves summer heat."

【Usage and Dosage】

Internal use: decoct in water, 1-2 liang; or burn and grind into powder. External use: simmer and grind into powder for application.

[Selected Prescriptions] ① Treats frequent discharge of smelly yellow water from the nose, and even occasional headaches: Take a loofah vine about three to five inches from the root, burn it to preserve its essence, grind it into fine powder, and take it with wine. ("Medical Biography") ② Treats toothache: Dry the loofah vine in the shade, calcine it temporarily to preserve its essence, grind it and apply it. ("Miaofang of the Sea")

【Clinical Application】

①Treatment of chronic tracheitis: 1. Decoction: Take 3-8 liang of luffa vine (dry), chop and soak, boil for more than 1 hour and filter, add water to the residue and decoct again, combine the two decoctions and concentrate to 100-150 ml, add appropriate amount of sugar. 50-100 ml each time, take 2-3 times a day, 10 days as a course of treatment. According to statistics of more than 1,000 cases repeatedly verified in different seasons, the total effective rate is about 70%, and the significant effective rate is about 30%. 2. Luffa vine extract: L12 daily dose 1200 mg, L14 daily dose 400 mg, both taken twice, 10 days as a course of treatment. According to the observation results of 93 cases in 4 courses of treatment, the total effective rate is 60-63%, the significant effective rate is 13-25%, and there is no significant difference compared with the decoction. In addition, more than 350 cases have been verified with luffa, luffa leaf juice and Tianluo water, and the results showed that the total effective rate was lower than that of luffa vine. However, there are also 100 cases observed with Tianluo water, and the effective rate of two courses of treatment reached 96%, and the significant effective rate reached 50%. According to the observation: the main effects of loofah vine and its extracts are antitussive and expectorant, with poor antiasthmatic effect and no obvious antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect; there is no significant difference between the efficacy and dosage and whether the loofah vine has been frosted or not; the efficacy of simple type is better than that of asthmatic type; the effect of patients without emphysema is better than that of patients with emphysema; the efficacy of medication for 4 to 3 courses is better, and the efficacy of extending the course of treatment is not significantly increased; there is no obvious regularity between the efficacy and the course of disease; the efficacy is significantly different from the season, with the highest efficacy in summer and lower efficacy in autumn and winter. About 20% of the cases have side effects such as heartburn and dry mouth, which are mild. The extract has almost no side effects. There is no obvious effect on liver and kidney function.

②Treatment of atrophic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis: decoct the roots of loofah and vines 3 to 5 feet near the roots, 3 qian each time, once a day; or use about 1 liang of root vines (fresh ones are better), and decoct with lean pork. 5 times is a course of treatment. According to observations, nasal secretions increased after taking it 1 or 2 times, and there was a slight dizziness occasionally, which disappeared later, and there were no other adverse reactions. In the treatment of 15 cases of atrophic rhinitis, the pus crusts and nasal odor disappeared after taking the medicine, and the sense of smell also improved to varying degrees, but the degree of atrophy of the nasal mucosa did not change significantly. After treatment, 6 cases of chronic upper sinusitis and 1 case of left chronic sinusitis had significantly reduced nasal discharge, headaches disappeared or alleviated, and purulent and sticky secretions from maxillary sinus puncture disappeared. In addition, you can also chop the dead vines, roast them until they are half-burned, grind them into powder and blow them into the nose, 2 to 3 times a day, 3 to 4 days as a course of treatment; it has a certain effect on chronic sinusitis