Menispermum dauricum
Menispermum dauricum is a member of the Menispermaceae family. Its Latin name is Menispermum dauricum L.
The family name of Menispermum dauricum is Menispermaceae Juss.
Description of Menispermum dauricum
Menispermum dauricum is a vine, reaching between two and five meters in length. Its stems are twining, entwining grasses or shrubs, and can also become prostrate if they lack suitable support. The bark of its stems is dark gray, fissured, and corky. The diameter at the base of the stem is approximately five to seven millimeters. The leaves of the Daurian moonseed are alternate and long-petiolate, peltate, and have three to five lobes, though they are rarely entire. These lobes are six to twelve centimeters long and shiny and leathery. The plant is dioecious. The flowers of the Daurian moonseed are borne in short paniculate inflorescences; they are quite small and whitish-green in color. The fruits of this plant are juicy drupes, reaching one centimeter in diameter. These fruits are black in color, contain a single crescent-shaped seed, and produce dark purple juice. It is worth noting that the fruits of this plant are poisonous.
Description of the medicinal properties of the Daurian moonseed
Dahurian moonseed has very valuable medicinal properties. For medicinal purposes, it is recommended to use the herb, leaves, roots, and rhizomes of this plant. This plant’s valuable medicinal properties are attributed to its tannins, berberine, coumarins, saponins, resins, and the following alkaloids: acutumin, acutumidine, dauricine, sinomenine, menisperine, stepharine, magnoflorine, and dauricinoline. The leaves of this plant also contain alkaloids, while the stems and leaves contain flavonoids and coumarins.
As for Tibetan and Chinese medicine, an infusion prepared from the herb of this plant has become quite widespread. This healing agent is recommended for use as a diuretic and analgesic for nephritis. A tincture of the roots of this plant is used as a very effective remedy that will tone the gastrointestinal tract and also improve metabolism. In addition, this infusion is indicated for use in cholecystitis and endometritis.
A decoction prepared from the herb Dahurian moonseed should be used in folk medicine as an expectorant for pneumonia, as well as a diaphoretic for feverish conditions. In addition, this decoction is also effective for various gynecological diseases. Tincture and decoction of the rhizomes of the Daurian moonseed are recommended for use to reduce headaches, increase performance, improve well-being and reduce the excitability of the autonomic nervous system.
Preparations based on the leaves of this plant, in turn, will increase the amplitude of heart contractions, reduce arterial impact, and will not have a significant effect on heart rhythms. It should be noted that Dahurian moonseed is a poisonous plant and there have even been known cases of poisoning from its berries: for this reason, care should be taken when handling this plant.
