☯ TCM Properties
Supplements Deficiency, calms asthma and regulates menstruation
Traditional Chinese Uses
Mian Hua Gen is the root and root bark of cultivated cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (Malvaceae). Neutral in nature, it is used in Chinese folk medicine to supplement Deficiency, calm wheezing, and regulate menstruation. Traditional indications include chronic cough and asthmatic breathing, uterine prolapse and Qi-deficiency fatigue, and menstrual irregularity; historically the root bark was also used to promote menstruation and hasten difficult labour.
The root contains gossypol, which has documented antifertility (spermatogenesis-suppressing) and uterine-stimulant effects. It is typically decocted and should be taken only under professional guidance given this pharmacological activity.
Botanical Description
Mian Hua Gen is the root, and particularly the root bark, of cultivated cotton in the genus Gossypium (family Malvaceae), most commonly G. hirsutum or G. herbaceum. The plant is grown as an annual herb in temperate cultivation, reaching 0.6 to 1.5 metres in height, with sturdy, branched stems and alternate, palmately three- to five-lobed leaves on long petioles. Showy solitary flowers borne in the leaf axils open creamy yellow and age to pink or purple, each subtended by a deeply fringed epicalyx of three large bracts. After fertilisation the calyx develops into the familiar cotton boll, a leathery capsule that dehisces at maturity to expose seeds densely clothed in long white lint fibres. The roots collected for medicine are slender, tan-barked, and contain gossypol; the bark is the principally active layer.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
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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