Fructus Anisi Stellati (Bajiaohuixiang)–Chinese Star Anise
Origin
Chinese Star Anise is the dried ripe fruit of Illicium verum Hook. f. The drug is collected in autumn and winter when it turns from green to yellow,and dried after treated with boiling water for a moment or dried directly.
Description and Identification
Mostly aggregate fruit of 8 follicles radiated from the central axis. Follicles 1 – 2cm long, 0.3 -0.5cm wide, 0.6 ~ 1cm high; outer surface reddish-brown, irregularly wrinkled, summit beaked, upper part mostly dehicent; inner surface pale brown, smooth and lustrous. Texture hard and brittle. Fruit stalk 3 ~ 4cm long,connected with the base of the fruit, curved,usually deciduous. Each follicle containing a compressed-ovoid seed, about 6mm long, reddish-brown or yellowish-brown, lustrous, with a hilum at the acute end; endosperm white,oily. Odour,aromatic; taste,pungent and sweet.
Chemical Ingredients
Essential oil, including anethole, Saf role, anisaldehyde, anisylacetone, etc.
Property and Channel Tropism
Property: acrid in taste Nwarm in nature.
Channel tropism: liver,kidney,spleen,and stomach.
Action and Indications
To dispel cold to regulate the flow of qi and to relieve pain.
Abdominal colic; lumbago due to deficiency in the kidney; vomiting and epigastric pain due to cold in the stomach.
Place of Production
It is mainly produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, etc.
Recipes of medicated Diet
1. Ba Jiao Hua Jiao Tang (Chinese Star Anise and Prichlyash Peel Decoction)
[Ingredients]
3g ba jiao hui xiang, Chinese star anise ( Fructus Anisi Stellati)
3g hua jiao, Prichlyash Peel ( Pericarpium Zanthoxyli )
10 da zao, Chinese dates ( Fructus Jujubae )
[ Preparation ]
Decoct all the ingredients mentioned above. Take the decoction once or twice per day.
[ Effects and Indications ]
Warming the middle jiao and dispelling cold, regulating qi for relieving pain.
Periarthritis humeroscapularis, arthralgia, etc.
