Illustrated Compendium of Materia Medica (Vol. 20)

Materia Medica Record?

Iron Broom

The Iron Broom Tiě Sàozhǒu is produced in the mountains of Jianchang A historical prefecture in modern-day Jiangxi Province, traditionally known for its production of medicinal herbs. It is a vining plant with green stems that are soft, slender, and grow in a tangled, interwoven manner. The leaves reach several inches in length; they are rounded at the base with a distinct notch and taper to a point at the tip, appearing at wide intervals along the vine. The plant’s fine roots are hard, colored a dark purplish-ochre, and grow in dense, thick clusters. Folk doctors 俚醫 (lǐyī): local or rural healers whose practices often incorporated regional plants not found in formal pharmacopoeias regard it as a medicinal agent for invigorating the blood 行血 (xíngxuè): a therapeutic method in Chinese medicine aimed at promoting blood flow to treat pain or stagnation and unblocking the joints original: 通骨節 (tōng gǔjié); referring to the relief of stiffness or arthritic symptoms. The roots are prepared by decocting them in wine for consumption.