Bunge Pricklyath Pericarp

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hebei, Shandong.

Singular follicles, 4~5mm diameter, slightly spherical, cracks into two sides. Externally purple-red or brownish-red, numerous scattered verrucous raised oil spots that are 0.5~1mm diameter, translucent when examined under light. Inner surface is pale yellow. Potent aromatic odor; causes an enduring numbing sensation to the tongue with a spicy taste.

Superior medicinal material is purple-red, large, oily, with potent aromatic odor.

Acrid; warm; slightly toxic

Warms the center, stops pain, kills worms, stops itching. Unprocessed Hua jiao has slightly toxin, and strong warm and acrid nature, externally used to kill worms and stop itching, sore, eczema, and Itch of skin.

Fried hua jiao: Put clean hua jiao into pre-heated pot fry with slow fire, till the color is darkened and aroma expressed out, and oily luster (sweating), take out and cool. It can reduce the toxic nature, advanced in warming center, dispesing cold, dispelling worms and stopping pain. Apply to abdominal cold pain, diarrhea due to cold dampness, abdominal pain due to worm accumulation.

‘Jiao mu’: This refers to the seed of Hua jiao, which is oval sharped, black, and lustrous.