☯ TCM Properties
Dispels Wind-Damp opens the channels and collaterals and relieves pain; Invigorates the Blood, Removes Blood Stasis
Traditional Chinese Uses
Qi Ye Lian is Schefflera heptaphylla (syn. S. octophylla), the root, stem and leaf being used. Bitter, pungent and warm, entering the Liver channel, it dispels Wind-Damp, opens the channels and collaterals, and invigorates the Blood to remove stasis, thereby relieving pain and swelling. It is a well-regarded analgesic in southern Chinese folk medicine, used for Wind-Damp painful obstruction (rheumatic and arthritic joint pain), limb numbness, headache, sore swollen throat, and the aches of traumatic injury; it is often decocted in water or steeped in wine.
For traumatic bleeding, the fresh leaves are traditionally crushed and applied directly to stanch bleeding. It is used both internally in decoction and topically. Note that the record's English common name ("Schefflera arboricola") refers to a related ornamental species; the text follows the stated scientific_name, S. heptaphylla.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Qi Ye Lian is Schefflera heptaphylla (L.) Frodin (synonym S. octophylla) of the Araliaceae, an evergreen shrub or small tree 2-15 m tall, widespread in southern China, Taiwan, Hainan, and across tropical Asia. The thick, smooth gray bark conceals a fibrous inner bark. Long-petioled palmately compound leaves bear typically seven to nine elliptic to obovate leaflets, each 9-17 cm long, leathery, dark glossy green above and paler below, with entire margins and acuminate tips. Numerous small whitish flowers are crowded in compound terminal panicles of globose umbels, producing globose drupes 4-5 mm across that turn dark purple at maturity. The leaves, root and bark are used in southern Chinese folk medicine and Yao ethnomedicine to dispel wind-dampness, reduce swelling, and relieve pain from sprains, rheumatic complaints, and sore throat.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-15g | 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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Qi Ye Lian.
No notes yet.