Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
夜花 / 夜茉莉 / 悲伤树 / 珊瑚茉莉 — Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.
Pinyin: Yèhuā / Yèmòlì · Malay: Seri Pagi Hutan / Bunga Parijat / Pokok Sedih · Family: Oleaceae (木犀科)
Energetics
Cool to Cold (微寒 / 凉)
Flavor
Bitter, astringent, pungent (苦、涩、微辛)
Meridians
Liver (肝), Spleen (脾), Lung (肺), Kidney (肾)
Traditional Edict
Coral Jasmine (Parijat / Ye Hua / Tree of Sorrow). Sacred night-blooming flowers with snowy petals and glowing orange corolla tubes. Supreme febrifuge for terminating resistant malarial fevers, relieving agonizing sciatica nerve pain, dredging arthritis.
Cautions & Contraindications
- Intensely bitter taste (can be sweetened with honey). High safety profile in traditional Ayurvedic practice. Contraindicated in cold watery diarrhea without heat signs. Caution during pregnancy.
Clinical Applications
- Chronic sciatica (Gridhrasi radiculopathy relief), acute intermittent malarial fevers, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, visceral leishmaniasis, and bronchial dry cough.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Arbortristoside A and iridoid glucosides downregulate pro-inflammatory TNF-a, IL-6, and COX-2/iNOS while inhibiting peripheral sciatic nerve nociceptive transmission. 2. Antimalarial schizonticidal action against Plasmodium. 3. Crocetin antioxidant.
Preparation & Dosage
THE SOVEREIGN PARIJAT SCIATICA & ARTHRITIS DECOCTION: 5 to 7 fresh leaves (or 10 g dried leaves) boiled in 300 mL water for 15 min; taken warm twice daily for shooting sciatica pain. Febrifuge floral infusion: 5-10 g dried orange-tubed flowers in hot water.
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Sciatica & Lumbar Nerve Pain Formula with Ichnocarpus frutescens (Yao Gu Teng) and Achyranthes. 2. Anti-Malarial Febrifuge Synergy with Andrographis paniculata (Hempedu Bumi).
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only