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The snowy clouds have blown away, and the shadows of the trees shift. It’s just the right time for the scholar to drag his staff. The old cow is about to have a new calf, and the barren mulberry tree sprouts a parasitic branch. The old doctor doesn’t need to search his bag for medicine. The fortune teller casts his divinations at dawn. Who says the world is full of worries? The ancient customs continue to be happily followed. Lu You of the Southern Song Dynasty
“The first four lines of this poem depict the endless cycle of life in nature. The line ‘空桑臥出寄生枝’ (a barren mulberry tree sprouts a parasitic branch) highlights the unwavering belief in self-reliance and perseverance. The last four lines express the poet’s deep concern for his country and its people.
According to the fourth edition of the Taiwan Chinese Medicine Dictionary, Sang Ji Sheng (桑寄生) (http://en.whatsintcm.com/dt_articles/%e6%a1%91%e5%af%84%e7%94%9f/)is the dried leafy branch of the plant Taxillus chinensis (DC.) Danser from the family Loranthaceae. It is primarily produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and Taiwan. The plant is harvested in winter or early spring, with coarse stems removed and the remaining branches either dried directly or steamed and then dried.
Because this plant is a parasite on mulberry trees, it is also known as Sang Shang Ji Sheng (桑上寄生). The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (神農本草經) records that it has a bitter taste and is neutral in nature. It is used to treat lower back pain, strengthen children’s backs, reduce abscesses and swellings, stabilize pregnancy, enhance the skin, strengthen hair and teeth, and promote the growth of facial hair and eyebrows. This indicates its diverse medicinal effects.
The dried medicinal material has cylindrical stems of varying thicknesses, with a surface that is reddish-brown or gray-brown and covered with numerous small brownish lenticels. The tender branches may have brownish fuzz and the cross-section shows a red-brown outer layer with a lighter-colored wood core. The leaves are often broken and curled, usually yellowish-brown, with fine hairs on young leaves and smooth edges for genuine products.
Commonly confused items may have stems without prominent lenticels and a cross-section that is almost entirely yellowish-white, with leaves that are more yellow and have serrated edges. Therefore, careful identification is necessary.
According to the Taiwan Chinese Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Viscum coloratum (Kom.) Nakai, a plant belonging to the Santalaceae family, is the dried stem and leaves of mistletoe used in traditional Chinese medicine. Mistletoe primarily grows in regions such as Hebei, Liaoning, Jilin, Henan, and Anhui in China. Due to its main production areas in Northeast and North China, it is also known as “Northern Parasite” (北寄生). Because it retains its green color even in winter, it is also called “Winter Green” (冬青). Additionally, due to the yellowish-green color of the harvested medicinal material, it is also known as “Yellow Parasite” (黃寄生).
Typically harvested in winter or early spring, the rough stem is removed before the plant is cut into sections and dried directly or steamed before drying. It has a bitter taste and a neutral nature. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine to dispel wind-dampness, nourish the liver and kidneys, strengthen the sinews and bones, and promote pregnancy.
The medicinal material, the stem and branch, is cylindrical, brittle, and light. It breaks easily with an uneven fracture. The surface is yellowish-green or brownish-yellow, with a yellow cortex and a light yellow xylem when cut. The leaves are yellowish-green or yellow, with smooth margins, fine wrinkles, and often fall off. They have a leathery texture and a slightly bitter taste with a sticky feel when chewed. Generally, the best quality mistletoe has tender branches, a yellowish-green color, and abundant leaves.
To avoid confusion, it is important to note that counterfeit mistletoe often has a flat stem instead of a round one, or even if the stem is round, its color is black rather than yellow.
Generally speaking, mistletoe itself is non-toxic. However, if it parasitizes on a poisonous plant, the mistletoe will contain corresponding toxic components. For example, if it parasitizes on a plant from the Apocynaceae family, it will have a pronounced cardiac glycoside reaction and be toxic. If it parasitizes on a 马桑 plant, it will be highly toxic. Therefore, extreme caution must be exercised when using mistletoe.
Furthermore, mistletoe has different names and medicinal uses depending on the host plant it parasitizes. For instance, mistletoe that parasitizes on peach trees is called ‘peach mistletoe.’ It has a bitter taste, is non-toxic, and is primarily used to treat childhood food poisoning, abdominal pain, sallow complexion, and emaciation. Mistletoe that parasitizes on willow trees is called ‘willow mistletoe.’ It has a bitter and flat taste, is non-toxic, and is primarily used to treat diaphragmatic qi stagnation and pain. Mistletoe that parasitizes on camphor trees is called ‘camphor mistletoe.’ It has a bitter and warm taste, is non-toxic, and is primarily used to treat evil qi, damp bi syndrome, hardened blood clots, inability to walk in children, various sores, and swelling.
Although both mistletoe and oak mistletoe belong to the same botanical family, their primary components differ. Mistletoe primarily contains quercetin, while oak mistletoe primarily contains oleanolic acid. These differences in chemical composition and pharmacological mechanisms result in different medicinal uses. Therefore, it is essential to use them separately to ensure therapeutic efficacy.
“Beyond its medicinal use in the East, mistletoe also holds significant importance as a plant used in Christmas wreaths in the West. In Norse mythology, the god of peace, Baldr, was killed by Loki, the god of mischief, with an arrow made of mistletoe. Baldr’s mother, the goddess of love, Frigga, was heartbroken and eventually managed to revive him. She then promised that anyone standing under the mistletoe would be granted a kiss. This led to the Christmas tradition of kissing under the mistletoe. The love, peace, and forgiveness symbolized by mistletoe have been preserved and have become an essential part of the spirit of Christmas.
Image provided by Professor Zhang Xianzhe, Authentic Medicinal Materials Illustrated.http://en.whatsintcm.com