Potentilla discolor

Potentilla discolor

　　Also known as "Old Crow’s Pillow." It is the whole herb with roots of the Rosaceae plant Potentilla discolor, mainly distributed in the mountainous areas north of the Daqing River in our county, with the highest concentration around Yashan in Jieshan Township and Baifo Mountain in Dongping Town. In the 1960s, some farmers in Xiatao Village, Jieshan Township, collected this medicinal herb to sell for their children’s school fees, harvesting up to over ten kilograms per day. The county’s medicinal materials company purchased about 1,000 kilograms annually. This medicinal herb often grows mixed with other grasses on slopes.

　　Potentilla discolor is a perennial herb, growing 15–30 decimeters tall, with much-branched roots that are thickened at the lower end and spindle-shaped. The stems grow upward and outward, are much branched, and have surfaces covered with white curly hairs. The stem leaves are clustered, odd-pinnate compound leaves with 5–9 leaflets; the upper stem leaves are smaller and trifoliate, slightly hairy on the upper surface and densely covered with white cottony hairs underneath, with yellow flowers.

　　It is harvested in early summer, when the seedlings emerge between March and April, dug out with roots, and dried in the sun.

　　Potentilla discolor has the functions of clearing heat and detoxifying, stopping bleeding and reducing swelling. It treats dysentery, cough, bloody stools, uterine bleeding, and swelling and pain. According to relevant reports, Potentilla discolor can treat the "three highs," namely high blood lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. In recent years, many diabetes patients in our county have gone up the mountains to dig up the whole herb themselves, wash and dry it, and use it as a tea substitute, brewing and drinking it with quite good therapeutic effects.