ZANTHOXYLUM PIPERITUM

ZANTHOXYLUM PIPERITUM.—蜀椒 (Shu-chiao), commonly called 川椒 (Ch‘uan-chiao), 241, and also 南椒 (Nan-chiao). As the name indicates, this is the Szechuan species, and is much cultivated in western China. It is a shrub from four to five feet high, spiny, with hard, shining leaves, and fruits appearing in the axils of the twigs and leaves. These fruits are the size of a small pea, have a purplish-red skin, and contain a shining, black seed, resembling the pupil of the eye, and for this reason called 椒目 (Chiao-mu), “pepper eyes.” It is not always clearly distinguished from Zanthoxylum bungei. The carpels, which are called 椒紅 (Chiao-hung), are considered somewhat deleterious. It is probable also that they are sometimes confounded with some other acrid drug, as it is said that the kind which closes the mouth (benumbing or acrid) will produce death. The prolonged use of these carpels is said to produce imbecility and to injure the blood vessels. Medicinally, they are carminative, stimulant, warming, tussic, antimalarial, and prophylactic. They are recommended in dysentery, spermatorrhœa, galactorrhœa, and polyuria. Externally, they are used as a stimulant to the skin and as a parasiticide. The seeds are considered diuretic, and are used in dropsies, diseases of the kidney and bladder, and in asthma. The leaves have properties similar to those of the fruits, and are prescribed in similar cases. A decoction of these is recommended in varnish-poisoning. The root is made into a decoction and used in kidney and bladder difficulties, and externally in ecchymoses and other skin affections.