Description:
Ramie (Zhu Ma, 苎麻) is a flowering plant in the nettle family Urticaceae, native to eastern Asia. It is a herbaceous perennial growing to 1–2.5 metres (3 ft 3 in–8 ft 2 in) in height. Leaves and roots of ramie are used in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) as analgesic, discutient, expectorant and antitussive.
Odour & Nature:
Sweet, cold-natured, non-toxic,
Channels:
Ramie functions by influencing the liver, heart and the bladder.
Uses, Health Benefits of Ramie & Medical Formulas:
Relieving Dyspnea
[Ancient Prescription] Calcined ramie root is taken with cooked fat pork to treat asthmatic cough with phlegm and mucus.
Improving Urinary System
[Ancient Prescription] Powdered ramie root and grin powder is taken with water to treat difficulty with urination.
[Ancient Prescription] A decoction of ramie root is taken internally to treat bloody stranguria.
[Ancient Prescription] A decoction of ramie root is applied externally to treat rectal prolapse.
Miscarriage Prevention
[Ancient Prescription] A decoction of ramie root and silver mineral is taken with wine to help relieve abnormal and painful fetal movement.
Relieving Pain
[Ancient Prescription] Sitting on smashed ramie root can help to relieve anal swelling and pain.
Skin Health
[Ancient Prescription] Cooked ramie root can be used externally to heal carbuncles on the back.
[Ancient Prescription] A decoction of ramie root can be applied externally to treat erysipelas (an acute streptococcal infectious disease of the skin, characterized by fever, headache, vomiting, and purplish raised lesions, especially on the face, also called Saint Anthony’s fire, Chinese: 丹毒).
[Ancient Prescription] A mixture of ramie leaves and lime is applied externally to facilitate the healing of wounds.
Hemoptysis
Powdered ramie roots, ginseng, chalk and grin powder is taken with sticky rice soup to treat hemoptysis.
Research And Studies:
The whole plant of ramie (except the roots) can be used for ethanol extraction.
The root of ramie is found to contain emodin, Emodin-8-BETA-glucoside and chlorogenic acid which can be transformed into caffeic acid and quinic acid under the condition of diluted acid.
The Ben Cao Medical Book (also known as Compendium of Materia Medica or Ben Cao Gang Mu; Chinese: 本草纲目) is the most famous and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Compiled and written by Li Shi-zhen (1518~1593), a medical expert of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) over 27 years.
The Ben Cao Medical Book records and describes all the plants, animals, minerals, and other objects that were believed to have medicinal properties in TCM. The book reflects the pharmaceutical achievements and developments of East Asia before the 16th century. On the basis of his predecessors’ achievements in the pharmacological studies, Li contributed further by supplementing and rectifying many past mistakes and misconception in relate to nature of many medicinal substances and causes of various illnesses. Charles Darwin, originator of the biological theory of evolution, regards the book as the “ancient Chinese encyclopedia”.
Disclaimer: The Ben Cao Medical Book is translated by ChinaAbout.net . The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of CTM knowledge and information from the research and experience from the author Li Shi-zhen. Kindly be alert that the CTM knowledge and ancient formulas given above are likely NOT medically proven and may contain misconceptions.