Wu Huan Zi
Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn.
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat; Resolves Phlegm; Promotes Digestion and Resolves Food Stagnation; Expels Parasites; Benefits the Throat; Resolves Toxicity and Reduces Swelling
Botanical Description
Sapindus mukorossi, the soapnut or reetha, is a medium to large deciduous tree of the Sapindaceae family reaching 12 to 20 m in height, with a straight trunk, smooth greyish bark, and a dense rounded crown. Leaves are alternate, paripinnate, 30 to 50 cm long, with five to ten pairs of opposite or subopposite lanceolate leaflets 7 to 15 cm long, each obliquely acuminate at the tip. Numerous small five-merous greenish-white flowers are borne in large terminal panicles 20 to 35 cm long in the warm season. The fruit is a fleshy globose drupe 1.5 to 2.5 cm in diameter, ripening from green to yellowish-brown, becoming dark and wrinkled when dry, with one (rarely two or three) large hard black globose seeds. The pericarp is rich in triterpenoid saponins and produces a stable lather in water.
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.