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    Yemama Apothecary

    Bencao Gangmu Reference Library

    Aromatic Exterior-Releasing, Spleen-Awakening & Insect-Repelling Sovereign (芳香解表 / 清热祛湿宣肺平喘理气止痛驱蚊解毒药)

    山香 / 香苦草 / 假野苏 / 毛老虎 — Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. (syn. Mesosphaerum suaveolens)

    Pinyin: Shānxiāng / Xiāngkǔcǎo · Malay: Selasih Hutan / Selasih Dandi / Pokok Ruku-ruku Hutan · Family: Lamiaceae (唇形科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to Neutral (平 / 微凉)

    Flavor

    Pungent, slightly bitter, intensely aromatic, camphoraceous-minty (辛、微苦、大香)

    Meridians

    Lung (肺), Spleen (脾), Stomach (胃), Liver (肝)

    Traditional Edict

    Bush Mint (Selasih Hutan / Shan Xiang). Powerful spearmint-camphor aroma and mucilaginous nutlets. Disperses wind-heat fevers, calms asthmatic cough, warms stomach gas cramps, repels mosquitoes (Ubat Nyamuk), and cools summer-heat.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Do not boil leaves >15 min (volatilizes cineole). High clinical and culinary safety. Contraindicated in severe Yin deficiency with dry red tongue.

    Clinical Applications

    • Upper respiratory bronchitis, bronchial asthma with bronchospasms, functional dyspeptic flatulence, IBS, natural spatial/topical mosquito repellency (Aedes aegypti), and mild constipation.

    Quality Markers

    1,8-Cineole >= 25.00%, Sabinene >= 15.00%, Suaveolol & Nutlet Mucilaginous Pectins (GC-MS/HPLC MHM standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. 1,8-Cineole and sabinene desensitize insect antennal Orco receptors (>85% mosquito repellency). 2. Suaveolol blocks voltage-gated calcium channels in gut/trachea, stopping spasms. 3. Nutlet mucilage absorbs 30x water as bulk lubricating laxative.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN SELASIH HUTAN COOLING BEVERAGE: 5-10 g dry nutlets soaked in 300 mL cool water for 10 min (gelatinous halo), sweetened with honey and lime for heatstroke. Leaf decoction: 10-20 g. Fresh leaf rub for mosquitoes.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Nanyang Summer-Heat & Fever Clearing Tea with Mentha haplocalyx and Lonicera japonica. 2. Rainforest Gastro-Harmony Tisane with Cymbopogon citratus (Serai) and Chenpi.

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only