Cooling effect thanks to the butterfly bush

According to traditional medicine, the silver butterfly has a slightly sweet taste and a cooling nature, with effects such as clearing heat, relieving external symptoms, cooling the blood, and reducing inflammation.

Silver butterfly bush is a small, creeping plant 1-2m tall. Young branches are covered with fine, silvery-white hairs. Leaves are opposite, oval-shaped, covered with fine hairs, dark green on the upper surface, lighter and sometimes hairy on the lower surface.

The inflorescence is a yellow cluster of flowers at the end of the branch. Before flowering, a cluster of silvery-white, egg-shaped bracts appears on the branch, resembling butterfly wings enveloping the flower, making it very beautiful, hence its other name, butterfly flower.

The fruit is a spherical berry containing many small black seeds; when crushed, it releases a sticky substance. The plant flowers and fruits in the summer.

Silver butterfly tree

The medicinal parts are the stem, leaves, and roots, harvested year-round, washed, chopped, and dried. The leaves are usually used fresh. For external use, there is no specific dosage.

Some commonly used prescriptions

Treatment for colds and fever: Boil 30g of dried and roasted butterfly bush root and 12g of shallots in three bowls of water until only one bowl remains. Drink three times a day. Alternatively, boil 30g of butterfly bush root, 10g of patchouli, and 10g of perilla in water. Drink three times a day while the medicine is still hot.

Preventing heatstroke: Brewing butterfly pea flowers into a tea substitute during hot weather.

To treat colds and heatstroke: Boil 100g of butterfly bush leaves in 2 liters of water, divide into several portions and drink while still hot. Or: Steep 12g of butterfly bush stem, 10g of five-leafed plant leaves, and 3g of mint in boiling water and drink.

Fever due to sore throat: Boil 30g of butterfly bush root, 2g of fan-shaped leaves, and 10g of lemon balm in water and drink twice a day. Alternatively, boil 40g of butterfly bush root and 20g of dried sour starfruit and drink twice a day.

To treat coughs caused by sore throat and tonsillitis: Boil 150g of butterfly bush leaves and stems in water and drink the decoction once a day for 3 days.

To support the treatment of rheumatism and joint pain: Boil 30g of the branches and roots of the silver butterfly bush, 30g of the bone-strengthening herb, 30g of the Smilax glabra root, 30g of the Angelica dahurica root, and 20g of the Angelica sinensis root in water and drink one dose per day. Combine this with applying fresh silver butterfly bush leaves, washed and crushed, to the painful area. A course of treatment lasts 10 days.

Treatment for difficulty urinating or scanty urination due to heat: Boil 20g of butterfly bush flowers, 10g of plantain leaves, 10g of cogon grass roots, and 12g of honeysuckle flowers in 500ml of water until only 300ml of liquid remains. Divide into two doses and drink before meals. Continue for 5-7 days.

NoteNot suitable for young children and pregnant women.

According to Health and Life