Hierba de trébol dulce del Daguestán

辟汗草

(化湿)

Hierba de trébol dulce del Daguestán

-Meliloto del Daguestán

-辟汗草 Pì Hàn Cǎo
-Daghestan Sweetclover Herb

Other Names
Trébol silvestre, trébol dulce, escoba de hierro, alfalfa silvestre, hierba cabeza de gallina, trébol amarillo, hierba fétida, hierba desintoxicante.

English Name
Daghestan Sweetclover Herb

Source
Recorded in Illustrated Records of Plants (Zhi Wu Ming Shi Tu Kao). It is described as a plant that grows in clusters, with trifoliate leaves resembling small bean leaves and small yellow flowers appearing in summer. Traditionally, it was placed in the hair to dispel body odor.

Origin
The medicinal material is derived from Melilotus suaveolens or Melilotus indicus of the Fabaceae family. The aerial parts are harvested during the flowering period and used either fresh or dried.

Habitat and Distribution
It grows in moist environments such as valleys, riverbanks, and fields, at elevations between 200 and 3700 meters. It is widely distributed in northeastern, northern, northwestern, and southwestern China, as well as in Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Taiwan, and Tibet.

Morphological Characteristics
Melilotus suaveolens is an annual or biennial herb reaching 60–90 cm in height, sometimes exceeding 1 meter. The stem is erect and branched. Leaves are trifoliate, with obovate to oblong leaflets. Flowers are yellow and borne in racemes. The pods are small and ovoid, containing a single seed.
Melilotus indicus is a biennial herb, smaller in size, with similar morphological characteristics.

Macroscopic Characteristics
The medicinal material consists of whole plants or cut segments. The stems are green to yellow-green with longitudinal ridges. Leaves are trifoliate with fine serrations. Flowers are small, yellow, and aromatic. The texture is light and brittle.

Chemical Constituents
Contains volatile oils, mainly coumarin, as well as flavonoids, β-sitosterol, glucose, fructose, sorbose, raffinose, and other carbohydrates.

Pharmacological Effects
Exhibits antimalarial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-edematous activities. It improves microcirculation and helps reduce inflammatory reactions.

Meridian Tropism
Enters the Liver, Spleen, and Stomach meridians.

Nature and Flavor
Pungent, slightly bitter, and cool in nature.

Functions and Indications
Clears heat, eliminates dampness, detoxifies, and promotes digestion. Used for summer-heat conditions, chest oppression, headache, dysentery, malaria, strangury, leukorrhea, halitosis, sores, eczema, and scabies.

Dosage and Administration
Decoction: 9–15 g.
For external use: apply as a poultice, wash, or fumigate.

Precautions
Use with caution in individuals with spleen deficiency or cold constitution. Contraindicated during pregnancy.

Reference
Encyclopedia of Chinese Materia Medica