A remedy for reducing swelling and pain using the Melastoma plant.
Mua is a shrub that grows wild, interspersed with sim trees, on hills, mountains, and roadsides... The entire mua plant can be used as medicine.
1. Characteristics and medicinal uses of the Melastoma plant
The plant known as Melastoma candidum D. Don is also called mua bà, dã mẫu đơn, sơn thạch lựu, địa như... Its scientific name is Melastoma candidum D. Don; it belongs to the Melastomaaceae family.
The plant is about 1 meter tall, with a trunk, branches, and leaves covered in rough, brown hairs that grow densely and coarsely. The leaves are opposite, oval-shaped, rough on the upper surface, and covered with many soft hairs on the lower surface; they have 5-7 prominent veins and entire margins. The large flowers are pollen-filled, purplish-pink, and usually grow in clusters of 2-3 at the end of branches. The fruit is egg-shaped and hairy. For medicinal purposes, the entire plant is harvested and used alone or in combination with other herbs in the form of a decoction.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine:
- The trunk, branches, and leaves of the plant are purchased:It has a sour and astringent taste; and a cooling nature. It is effective in promoting blood circulation and reducing swelling (dissolving blood clots, resolving stagnation, and reducing inflammation); relieving rheumatism; clearing heat and detoxifying; stopping bleeding; and treating diarrhea and dysentery.
- Purchased fruit:It has a mild taste and is neutral in nature; it is used to treat uterine bleeding and insufficient milk production in women.
- Purchased roots:It has an astringent taste and is neutral in nature. It strengthens the spleen, stops diarrhea, and stops bleeding and dissolves blood clots. It is used to treat poor digestion, stomach pain, dysentery, bloody stools, excessive menstruation, rheumatism, traumatic bruising and pain, etc.
2. Medicinal remedies from the Melastoma plant for treating diseases.
- Treating soft tissue injuries with bruising and swelling:Crush fresh leaves of the Melastoma plant, add a little vinegar, heat the mixture, and apply it to the affected area.
- Treating cassava poisoning:Use 80-100g of fresh branches, leaves, or roots. Boil them in water and drink the decoction.
- Reduceknee pain:Take 25g of the leaves and stems of the Chinese honeysuckle plant and 12g of the honeysuckle vine; boil them with water, and divide the decoction into two doses to be taken during the day.
- Uterine bleeding:Take 20g of the fruit, roast it until black, then boil it with water and drink the decoction.
- Excessive menstrual bleeding:Boil 50g of dried Melastoma root in water, and divide the decoction to drink throughout the day.
- Treatment for rheumatism:50g of dried Rhodiola root, 15g of Prunella vulgaris, 50ml of wine; decoct thoroughly with water, divide into two doses and drink twice a day.
- Treating blocked milk ducts:50g of fresh guava leaves, 100g of lean pork; stew and eat.
ButInsufficient milk supply:Take 20g of Chinese quince (you can add 9g of pangolin scales and 6g of *Tetrapanax papyriferus*), and one pig's trotters; simmer until cooked, and divide into portions to eat throughout the day.
- Treatment of bacillary dysentery,acute enteritis:120g of dried Melastoma root, 600ml of water; boil down to 100ml, drink all at once or divide into two portions to drink throughout the day.
- Treating boils on the earlobe or outer ear canal (ear abscess):30g of fresh Melastoma leaves, one pig's ear; boil in water and drink the decoction.
