The Efficacy and Function of White-backed Leaf
Jan 08, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
The white-backed leaf has a cold and cool nature, and can clear heat and remove dampness, effectively eliminating damp-heat pathogens from the body. By clearing heat and promoting bile secretion, the white-backed leaf facilitates bile excretion and alleviates jaundice symptoms. It also possesses the effects of detoxification and reducing swelling, making it applicable for treating various heat-toxin conditions and inflammatory swellings or sores. For abscesses and toxic swellings, whether taken internally or applied externally, the white-backed leaf can clear heat, detoxify, reduce swelling, and relieve pain.
The common functions and effects of white-backed leaf generally include clearing heat and dampness, detoxifying and reducing swelling, soothing the liver and promoting blood circulation, regulating liver qi, and strengthening the spleen to resolve dampness.
1. Clearing Heat and Dampness
White-backed leaf has a cold and cool nature, enabling it to clear heat and dampness, effectively eliminating heat and dampness pathogens from the body. White-backed leaf can promote bile excretion and alleviate jaundice symptoms through its heat-clearing and dampness-resolving effects on the gallbladder.
2. Detoxifying and Reducing Swelling
White-backed leaf has detoxifying and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to treat various heat-toxin conditions and inflammatory swellings or sores. For abscesses, carbuncles, or toxic swellings, whether taken internally or applied externally, white-backed leaf can clear heat, detoxify, reduce swelling, and relieve pain, promoting the resolution and healing of ulcers.
3. Soothing the Liver and Promoting Blood Circulation
White-backed leaf can improve blood circulation in the liver, promoting the repair and regeneration of liver cells. By enhancing hepatic blood circulation, it achieves the effect of soothing the liver and activating blood circulation. It has a certain hepatoprotective effect for patients with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver, and hepatosplenomegaly.
4. Regulating Liver Qi
White-backed leaf enters the liver meridian and has the function of soothing the liver and regulating qi. For symptoms such as chest and rib distension pain or breast distension pain caused by liver qi stagnation, white-backed leaf can relieve liver depression, promote smooth qi flow, thereby alleviating pain and easing symptoms of liver qi stagnation. It also has a certain regulatory effect on breast tenderness before menstruation in women.
5. Strengthening the Spleen and Resolving Dampness
White-backed leaf also has the effect of strengthening the spleen and resolving dampness, which can enhance the transportation and transformation functions of the spleen and stomach, promoting the elimination of dampness from the body. White-backed leaf strengthens the spleen and harmonizes the stomach, improving the transportation and transformation functions of the spleen and stomach, aiding digestion, relieving discomfort such as abdominal distension and loose stools, restoring normal spleen and stomach function, and enhancing the body's digestive and absorptive capabilities.
It is recommended to use white-backed leaf under the guidance of a physician; self-medication is not advised. A light diet should be maintained, avoiding spicy and irritating foods, and a balanced dietary structure should be upheld to help maintain a healthy physical condition.
