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TCM Treasures - Scandent schefflera 七叶一枝花
By Zhang Qian |
June 3, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THIS distinctive-looking plant has seven leaves that form the shape of a flower, while the real flower at the top resembles leaves. Its scientific name is scandent schefflera, but it is commonly called qi ye yi zhi hua - seven leaves and a flower.
It was said to be a gift from ancient Chinese goddess the Queen Mother and seven fairies in heaven. According to legend, an orphan was bitten by a poisonous snake while cutting firewood. He was discovered unconscious by the Queen Mother and her retinue, who spread seven handkerchiefs and a jade hairpin on his wound. Gaining the magic powers of the fairies, the boy recovered and the seven handkerchiefs and a hairpin fell to the ground and were transformed into a magical herb with seven leaves and a flower.
In TCM, scandent schefflera is classified as a cold herb that helps dispel pathogenic heat, relieve inflammation and pain and soothes coughing and difficult breath.
It is often prescribed for skin inflammation, mumps, eczema, mastitis and tumors, and is still widely known for treating poisonous snake bites. Prescriptions & Usage:
It was said to be a gift from ancient Chinese goddess the Queen Mother and seven fairies in heaven. According to legend, an orphan was bitten by a poisonous snake while cutting firewood. He was discovered unconscious by the Queen Mother and her retinue, who spread seven handkerchiefs and a jade hairpin on his wound. Gaining the magic powers of the fairies, the boy recovered and the seven handkerchiefs and a hairpin fell to the ground and were transformed into a magical herb with seven leaves and a flower.
In TCM, scandent schefflera is classified as a cold herb that helps dispel pathogenic heat, relieve inflammation and pain and soothes coughing and difficult breath.
It is often prescribed for skin inflammation, mumps, eczema, mastitis and tumors, and is still widely known for treating poisonous snake bites. Prescriptions & Usage:
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