Hibiscus taiwanensis
StarHibiscus taiwanensis
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Taiwanese and Chinese traditional medicine, the stem of Hibiscus taiwanensis has been used as an anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antifungal agent (Liu et al., 2012). This use is supported by species-specific pharmacology: an aqueous stem extract reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema and inhibited nitric oxide, TNF-alpha and PGE2 production in LPS-stimulated macrophages, suppressing iNOS and COX-2 while inducing heme oxygenase-1, and showed analgesic activity in mice (Liu et al., 2012; PMC3388519).
Botanical Description
Hibiscus taiwanensis, the Taiwan cotton rose, is a deciduous shrub or small tree of the family Malvaceae, 3 to 8 m high, endemic to Taiwan. The whole plant is clothed not in star-shaped hairs but in dense, stiff, strigose and scabrous bristles about 3 mm long. The long-stalked leaves are broadly rounded (suborbicular) and papery, with three to five broadly triangular lobes and serrate to dentate margins. The large, solitary flowers are broadly funnel-shaped and single (not double), white to creamy yellow, often with a deeper-coloured centre, ageing to pink as in other cotton roses. The fruit is a hairy capsule. The species grows in moist, shady forests and along streams, occurring throughout Taiwan below about 1,200 m elevation, including the Alishan Range.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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