The efficacy and function of kapok bark

The bark of the kapok tree is used as medicine in Guangdong as Pittosporum tobira bark, called Guangdong Pittosporum tobira bark. It tastes bitter and is neutral in nature. It can eliminate rheumatism, dredge meridians, and kill insects. Treat rheumatism, dysentery, toothache, and scabies.

Harvesting and storage

It can be harvested throughout the year, the bark is peeled off and dried.

Flavor

Neutral, bitter, spicy; cool

Meridians

Stomach; Large Intestine

Indications

Clears away heat and detoxifies; disperses blood stasis and stops bleeding.

It can treat rheumatism, arthralgia and dredge meridians.

Diarrhea; dysentery;

Chronic gastritis; Gastric ulcer;

Metrorrhagia; sores, swelling and pain, toothache

Can kill insects.

Dosage

For internal use: decoction, 15-30g. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

Source

1. "Essentials of Raw Medicinal Herbs" says: It can eliminate swelling and sores, relieve pain, and be used for bruises and sprains to eliminate redness and swelling.

2. "Bencao Qiuyuan": Treats bruises, fire sores, and promotes blood circulation.

3. "Records of Medicinal Herbs in Lingnan": Treats waist and leg paralysis, stubborn blood stasis, pain in the legs and knees, and red and white diarrhea.

4. Guangzhou Army’s “Handbook of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines”: clears heat and removes dampness. Treat chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, and postpartum edema.

5. "Haiyao Bencao": It is used to treat waist and leg paralysis, stubborn numbness, leg and knee pain, cholera, red and white diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and scabies.

6. "Bencao Gangmu" (Bencao Gangmu): Treats blood vessel paralysis and pain, and red eyes.

7. Kaibao Materia Medica: It is used to treat cholera, chronic dysentery, licorice and tinea, and scabies. For toothache caused by tooth decay, you can boil it and drink it or hold it in your mouth. Soak it in water to wash your eyes and remove redness on the skin.

8. "Compendium of Materia Medica": It can circulate through the meridians to reach the site of disease, and it can also enter the blood to dispel wind and kill parasites.