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    Yemama Apothecary

    Bencao Gangmu Reference Library

    Wind-Damp Dispelling, Joint-Dredging & Aperient Sovereign (祛风除湿 / 散寒通络活血止痛发表透疹润肠通便 — 热带风湿骨痛与关节肿痛第一掌叶木 / 传统爪哇榄仁树皮药)

    掌叶苹婆 / 香苹婆 / 裂叶苹婆 / 臭苹婆 / 爪哇榄仁同属 — Sterculia foetida L.

    Pinyin: Zhǎngyè Píngpó / Xiāng Píngpó / Chòupíngpó · Malay: Kelumpang Jari / Kelumpang Jawi / Kepoh / Poh · Family: Malvaceae (锦葵科 / 梧桐科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to Neutral (平 / 微凉)

    Flavor

    Sweet, astringent, slightly acrid, oily (甘、涩、微辛、平)

    Meridians

    Liver (肝), Lung (肺), Stomach (胃), Large Intestine (大肠)

    Traditional Edict

    Hazel Sterculia (Kelumpang Jari / Zhang Ye Ping Po / Kepoh). 7-9 Digitate finger-like leaves and scarlet woody pods. Sovereign for subduing chronic rheumatoid knee arthritis, lumbar stiffness, and lubricates dry constipation. Seeds must be roasted before eating.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • ALWAYS ROAST SEEDS BEFORE EATING (destroys excess raw cyclopropenoid acids). CONTRAINDICATED in active pregnancy for high-dose bark decoctions (mild channel-moving dynamics). Safe during lactation.

    Clinical Applications

    • Chronic rheumatoid arthritis, knee osteoarthritis (downregulating synovial NF-kB and COX-2), functional atonic constipation, and lipid metabolism modulation.

    Quality Markers

    Sterculic Acid (Cyclopropenoid fatty acid) >= 50.0%-65.0% in oil, Malvalic Acid >= 10.0% & Lupeol (HPLC/GC-MS)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Sterculic acid inhibits COX-2 and 5-LOX, suppressing inflammatory PGE2 and LTB4 in joints. 2. SCD1 desaturase inhibition. 3. Fixed triglycerides coat colonocytes for gentle laxation.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN KELUMPANG JARI RHEUMATIC DECOCTION: 20 to 30 g dried bark chips boiled with Gu Sui Bu and Ji Xue Teng in 600 mL water for 25 min; taken warm twice daily for arthritis. Roasted snack (Kacang Kepoh): 30 g seeds baked at 150C for 15 min.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Rheumatic Knee & Lumbar Arthritis Triad with Morinda umbellata and Niu Xi. 2. Bowel-Lubricating Constipation Tisane with Senna tora (Jue Ming Zi).

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