Crane's knee plant, a precious traditional medicine that cures many diseases

The crane's knee plant is a valuable medicinal herb in traditional and folk medicine in Vietnam, widely used thanks to its diverse pharmacological properties to treat bone and joint pain, kidney failure, protect the liver, support diabetes...

Gối hạc: Một vị thuốc nam quý chữa nhiều bệnh - Ảnh 1. — The crane's pillow plant has many valuable active ingredients to cure diseases - Photo: BSCC

Many valuable active ingredients have medicinal effects

Doctor Quach Tuan Vinh, member of the Executive Committee of the Hanoi Oriental Medicine Association, said that the crane's knee, also known as the crane's knee vine, the pillow vine, the mountain castor oil vine, the monkey's bone, the monkey's blood tree, with the scientific name: Leea rubra or Leea indica, belonging to the Leeaceae family, is a precious medicinal plant that grows wild in the mountains.

Compound pinnate leaves, glossy green, slightly serrated edges, small flowers, growing in clusters, red or purple, small spherical fruit, black when ripe.

The root of the plant is mainly a tuber with white, yellow or pink color, usually harvested during the winter months every year.

People will dig up this root, wash it, slice it thinly, then dry it or dry it and use it as medicine. To ensure the quality of this medicine, it needs to be stored in a dry, cool place, away from moisture.

According to modern medicine, the crane's knee plant helps prevent and treat bone and joint pain, menorrhagia, abdominal pain, rheumatism, acute rheumatism, and chronic rheumatism.

Many studies have determined that the chemical composition of the crane's pillow plant contains valuable active ingredients:

Flavonoids: Antioxidant, helps protect blood vessels.

Tannin: Has hemostatic and antibacterial properties.

Saponin: Enhances immunity, anti-inflammatory.

Alkaloid: Pain relief, nerve support. Also contains trace elements such as iron, calcium, magnesium... to help supplement nutrition for the body.

Crane pillow has medicinal effects including:

- Detoxification: Has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, especially effective in treating acne and skin ulcers.

- Blood circulation, pain relief: Used to treat bone and joint pain, arthritis, rheumatism.

- Hemostasis: Treatment of nosebleeds, menorrhagia, gastrointestinal bleeding.

- Kidney tonic: Helps improve kidney function, treat kidney failure, back pain and knee pain.

- Anti-inflammatory: Used topically to treat swelling and injuries.

There are several scientific studies that prove the medicinal effects of Crane Pillow:

Anti-inflammatory: Research from the Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2019) shows that extracts from the leaves of the crane's-paw plant have anti-inflammatory effects similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Antioxidant: Research from Hanoi University of Pharmacy (2022) demonstrates the strong antioxidant capacity of flavonoids in the plant, especially in protecting the liver.

Diabetes treatment support: A study in mice showed that crane's knee extract significantly reduced blood sugar after 4 weeks.

Strengthen immunity : The saponins in the plant help stimulate the immune system, suitable for people with weak bodies.

Some medicinal uses of crane pillows to treat diseases

Doctor Quach Tuan Vinh said According to oriental medicine, crane's knee has a cool nature, slightly bitter and astringent taste, and is classified into the Liver, Kidney, and Large Intestine meridians. This medicinal herb is used for anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, blood circulation, and to help eliminate swelling.

In oriental medicine, crane pillows are used in many medicinal remedies:

Treats bone and joint pain, relieves pain and supports joint flexibility: 20g dried crane knee root, 15g scratch grass, 10g bone pain vine, 4g licorice. Boil with 1 liter of water, drink 2 times/day. The remedy has the following effects: Pain relief, blood circulation, supports joint flexibility.

Neurological rehabilitation : 15-20g dried crane knee root. 12g Achyranthes root, 12g Desmodium styracifolium. 10g Smilax glabra. 5g Licorice. Wash all ingredients, boil with 1 liter of water. Simmer until about 300ml of water remains.

Take 2 times/day after meals. The medicine has the following effects: Helps relieve pain, soothe inflammation symptoms and restore nerve function.

Anti-muscle stiffness: 100g fresh crane knee root. White wine: 200ml. Crush fresh crane knee root, then mix with white wine. Heat the mixture and apply directly to the spine or painful joints. Use a clean cloth to fix, leave for about 1-2 hours.

Or dry crane's knee root, boil water and soak the swollen area for 15 minutes, 1-2 times a day. The remedy has the following effects: Reduces local pain, helps reduce inflammation and muscle stiffness.

The medicine has the following effects: Local pain relief, helps reduce inflammation and muscle stiffness.

Strengthening the spine: Dried crane's knee root: 1kg. White wine: 5 liters (rice wine from 40-50 degrees). How to make: Wash the crane's knee root, slice or leave whole. Soak the root in white wine, leave in a cool place, soak for 30-40 days.

Drink 20ml each time, 1-2 times a day, do not drink more than 50ml/day. The medicine has the following effects: Strengthens the spine, reduces bone and joint pain and supports blood circulation.

Support treatment of kidney failure: 15g of crane's knee root, 10g of cau tich, 10g of tang ki sinh, 5g of cam thao. Boil and drink once a day.

Or 15g dried crane knee root, 10g dodder seed, 12g tang ki sinh, 10g coix seed. Boil and drink 1 dose per day, divided into 2 times. The medicine has the following effects: Strengthens kidney function, reduces pain caused by herniated disc.

Support treatment of blood pressure + diabetes: 15g of crane's knee root, 15g of gymnema sylvestre, 10g of hairy asparagus root, 12g of gypsum, 12g of Gynostemma pentaphyllum. Boil and drink 1 dose per day. Has the effect of lowering blood sugar and blood pressure.

Treating acne and ulcers: 15g fresh crane's knee leaves, 10g betel leaves. How to use: Crush and apply to affected area, 2 times/day.

Some folk remedies use this plant such as blood clot: Use fresh crane's knee leaves, crush, apply directly to bleeding wounds; Treat diarrhea : 10g fresh crane's knee leaves, boil with 300ml of water, drink divided into 2 times/day.