Ficus hirta Vahl
Aliases：Wǔ Zhǐ Niú Nǎi (Five-finger Milk); Tǔ Huáng Qí (Wild Astragalus); Tǔ Wǔ Jiā Pí (Wild Acanthopanax Bark); Nán Qí (Southern Astragalus); Wǔ Zhǎo Lóng (Five-claw Dragon); Wǔ Zhǎo Jīn Lóng (Five-claw Golden Dragon); Wǔ Zhǐ Máo (Five-finger Hair); Mǔ Zhū Nǎi (Sow Milk); Wǔ Zhǐ Róng (Five-finger Fig); Wǔ Chā Niú Nǎi (Five-branch Milk); Sān Zhǎo Lóng (Three-claw Dragon); Wǔ Zhǎo Táo (Five-claw Peach); Shān Gǒu Chà (Mountain Dog Difference).
Wǔ Zhǐ Máo Táo (Hairy Fig Root) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the root of Ficus simplicissima Lour., a plant of the Moraceae family. It is named for its palmately lobed leaves resembling five fingers, its hairy fruit, and the milky white latex from its roots. It is both medicinal and edible, suitable for both therapeutic use and culinary soups.
Efficacy & Actions
Tonifies qi and strengthens the spleen, resolves phlegm and relieves wheezing, promotes qi circulation and resolves dampness, and relaxes sinews and unblocks collaterals.
Indications
Used for spleen deficiency with edema, poor appetite and weakness, pulmonary tuberculosis with cough, night sweats, leukorrhea, postpartum lactation difficulty, rheumatic arthralgia, edema, cirrhotic ascites, hepatitis, and traumatic injuries. It is also used for chronic bronchitis, neurasthenia, and lumbago with leg pain, among other conditions.
Modern Pharmacology
Antitussive, expectorant, and antiasthmatic: Relieves cough, promotes expectoration, and alleviates wheezing; improves respiratory function. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic: Exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. Gastric mucosal protection: Protects the gastric mucosa. Immune enhancement: Polysaccharides RFHP-1/2 modulate immunity and increase CD4/CD8 ratio. Hepatoprotective: Improves non-alcoholic fatty liver. Antioxidant and anti-aging: Possesses antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-radiation effects. Antitumor: Isopentenyl flavonoids induce HeLa cell apoptosis via MAPK/AKT pathways. Anti-fatigue: Exhibits anti-fatigue effects. Gut microbiota regulation: Modulates intestinal microecology.
Ingredients
Coumarins: Psoralen, umbelliferone, etc. Flavonoids: Kaempferol, astragalin, acacetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, naringenin, etc. Phenylpropanoids. Terpenoids: Lupeol palmitate, β-amyrin acetate, etc. Sterols: Daucosterol, β-sitosterol, etc. Volatile oils. Phenolic compounds. Amino acids. Carbohydrates and various mineral elements.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 30–60g (or 60–90g); fresh material may be used at 30–60g; may also be steeped in wine. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, decocted in water for washing; or ground into powder and mixed for external application. Usage Notes: Generally taken as a decoction; for culinary use, the common dosage is 50–100g.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with deficiency-cold. Pregnant and lactating women should use it under the guidance of a physician. Children should use it under the guidance of a physician. Use with caution in individuals with allergies. Should not be taken in excessive amounts, as it may increase the burden on the liver and kidneys. Be cautious of whether the herb has been sulfur-fumigated; sulfur-fumigated products may increase the burden on the liver and kidneys.
Selected Formulas
For postpartum agalactia (Guangxi Folk Common Chinese Herbal Medicine Manual) Take 60g of Wuzhiniunai (Ficus hirta root), stew with pig trotters and consume. For leukorrhea (Guangxi Folk Common Chinese Herbal Medicine Manual) Take 30g of Wuzhiniunai and 60g of Yipichou (a local herb), decoct in water and drink. For senile qi-deficiency edema (Guangxi Folk Common Chinese Herbal Medicine Manual) Take 90g of Wuzhiniunai and 30g of Qianjinba (Flemingia root), decoct and drink; or stew 90g of Wuzhiniunai with pig spine bones and eat. For neurasthenia (Chinese Ethnic Materia Medica) Take 50g each of Wuzhimaotao root, Hulucha (Desmodium triquetrum), and Hanxiucao (Mimosa pudica). Soak in 60ml of wine for 10 days. Take 20ml each time, three times daily. For chronic bronchitis (Chinese Ethnic Materia Medica) Take 150g of Zihuadujuan (Rhododendron mariae), 100g of Maodongqing (Ilex pubescens), and 100g of Wuzhimaotao. Decoct in water and take one dose daily. For acute and chronic hepatitis (Selected Empirical Formulas) Take 20g of Wuzhimaotao, 100g of Chuanposhi (Cudrania cochinchinensis root), and 9g of Hulucha. Decoct in water and take twice daily.
Daily Consumption
Wuzhimaotao Chicken Soup: Take 50–100g of Wuzhimaotao (Hairy Fig Root), 1 chicken (approximately 1000–1500g), 20g of Euryale Seed (Qiàn Shí), 8 red dates, and 2 slices of ginger. Blanch the chicken, then place it in a pot with all the other ingredients. Add water, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 2 hours. Season with salt to taste. Efficacy: Tonifies qi, replenishes deficiency, and strengthens the body’s resistance. Wuzhimaotao Pork Bone Soup: Wash the Wuzhimaotao and soak it in water for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Blanch the pork bones, then place them in a pot with the Wuzhimaotao and ginger. Add water, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 1–1.5 hours. Season with salt to taste. Wuzhimaotao Stewed Pig Trotters: Take 60g of Wuzhimaotao and stew it with pig trotters. Used for postpartum lactation difficulty.
Medicinal Parts
Dried root.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry container in a dry, well-ventilated place.