A Comparative Study on the Flowery Knotweed Root and Auriculate Swallowwort Root in Medical Texts

하수오(何首烏)와 백수오(白首烏)에 대한 문헌적(文獻的) 비교(比較) 고찰(考察)

Flowery Knotweed Root is the dried tuberous root of the knotweed family wheres Auriculate Swallowwort Root is the dried tuberous root of the swallowort family. Flowery Knotweed Root is also called Red Flowery Knotweed Root in China, which is dried root of Polygonum multiflorum THUMB. Chinese Flowery Knotweed Root is better known as the dried tuberous root belonging to the family Apocynaceae whereas White Flowery Knotweed Root in Korea is the dried tuberous root of Cynanchum wilfordii(Maxim) Hemsl. Up to now, while the dried root named Red Flowery Knotweed Root has been widely used in China, Auriculate Swallowwort Root has been widely used in Korea. Both the roots contrast in a striking way with the origin, shape, botanical names, other names, and chemical constituents, so administration and dosage without discrimination of both sides can be open to question. According to the literature, it is recorded that Flowery Knotweed Root and Auriculate Swallowwort Root are similar to the characteristics, properties, and actions. From this study, the result is as follows: 1. Flowery Knotweed Root and Auriculate Swallowwort Root are divided into the family Apocynaceae and the family Polygonaceae, respectively. Accordingly 2. Flowery Knotweed Root is in shape of an irregular spindle and looks reddish- brown or deep reddish-brown and the section is light yellowish-brown, while Auriculate Swallowwort Root looks yellowish-brown and the section is white or yellow. 3. Flowery Knotweed Root is reported by the Journal of the Crude Drug that the medicinals have not the same therapeutic action as Auriculate Swallowwort Root. It is recorded that the properties, channel entry, functions of Flowery Knotweed Root and Auriculate Swallowwort Root in literature have much in common. Many works on the roots of this plant has been used traditionally as a tonic are required of. In view of the results, Flowery Knotweed Root and Auriculate Swallowwort Root varies both in nature and in shape, so that the administration and dosage of the medicinals must be taken a prudent attitude.