Pima Grass (披麻草) is written in “Kunming’s Folk Medicinal Herbs”. Pima Grass, a traditional Chinese medicinal material. This product is the whole plant of Dracontium stenophyllum of the Liliaceae family. Harvested in autumn, washed, cut into sections, and dried. Functions and indications: Internal use for inducing vomiting, strengthening bones, and relieving seizures. External use for stopping bleeding, alleviating pain, and unblocking nasal passages. For severe injuries, grind into powder and take with alcohol; for nasal congestion and neuralgia, grind into powder and inhale; for external bleeding, apply the powdered form directly to the wound.

Characteristics of Pima Grass:

• Plant Height: 60-110 cm.
• Stem: Hairless, with a brown or yellowish-white membranous sheath at the base. The upper part of the sheath turns into a fibrous bundle with few networked holes after withering.
• Root: Fleshy, cylindrical, 2-3 mm thick, and yellowish-brown.
• Leaves: Yellow-green, 7-9 in number, mostly basal or near the base, with 2-3 scattered along the upper stem. Leaf blades are strap-shaped, elongated, 30-50 cm long, varying widely in width (usually between 1-4.5 cm), tapering to a point at the tip, with a sessile base, hairless on both sides, and with a prominent central rib.
• Inflorescence: Conical and narrowly tower-shaped, 40-50 cm long. Multiple side racemes are mostly nearly erect, with some nearly spreading, 12-15 cm long, each with 8-20 or more flowers, either sparse or dense. The terminal raceme can be up to 30 cm long, with many flowers, dense or sparse. The inflorescence axis, flower stalks, and small bracts are covered with white or dirty yellowish woolly hairs.
• Flowers: Pale yellow-green or yellow-green; flower stalks are short or long, 7-12 mm; small bracts are yellow-green, lanceolate to ovate, 4-5 mm long, shorter than the flower stalks; flowers are bisexual and staminate, with 6 tepals, nearly equal, oval-shaped, with acute tips, short claws at the base, 8-9 mm long, 3-4 mm wide; filaments are curved downward, hairless, 2-3 mm long, and the anthers are yellow-green and kidney-shaped; the ovary is green, hairless, nearly equal in length to the filaments, with 3 separate and downward-curved stigmas; staminate flowers lack a degenerate ovary. Bisexual flowers are located at the base of the terminal raceme and the upper side branches, while staminate flowers are on the side branches.
• Fruit: Light yellow-green, erect, approximately parallel to the main axis, flattened into an elongated ovate or cylindrical shape, 2.8 cm long, about 1.2 cm wide; seeds are nearly cylindrical, about 5 mm long, with narrow wings on both sides, longer wings at both ends, forming an elliptical shape with pointed ends, 9-11 mm long, 3.5 mm wide.
• Flowering Period: August to September; fruit ripens in November.
• Habitat: Found in Jingdong, Lijiang, Jianchuan, Dali, Chuxiong, Nanhua to Gejiu, growing on mountain slopes or grasslands at altitudes of 2400-3100 meters; also distributed in Xichang, Huiedong, and Huili in Sichuan. The type specimen (Forrest 11511) was collected from Dali. This species is closely related to Mongzi Rhizome (蒙自藜芦) but can be distinguished by its smaller flowers and the absence of a dark honey-gland band on the inner side of the tepals. The root is used in medicine, applied externally for fractures, contusions, and bleeding from wounds, and internally as an emetic. It is highly toxic and should be used with caution.

Cultivation and Processing of Pima Grass:

• Plant: The root of the Liliaceae plant, Narrow-leaved Rhizome (狭叶藜芦) and Dali Rhizome (大理藜芦). Harvested in autumn and winter, cleaned, and used fresh or dried.

Morphology:

1. Narrow-leaved Rhizome (狭叶藜芦)
   • Description: Perennial herb, 50-120 cm tall. The bulb is not noticeably enlarged. The base of the plant remains with leaf sheaths that tear into blackish-brown net-like fibers. Lower leaves are strap-shaped, narrowly elongated, or lanceolate, 25-40 cm long, 2-6 (or 8) cm wide, with sharp tips and a sheath-like base embracing the stem, hairless on both sides. The conical inflorescence is 20-80 cm long, with weakly developed side racemes usually bearing staminate flowers, and terminal racemes with bisexual flowers; the lower bracts are longer or shorter than the branches. Flowers are dense or slightly sparse with very short pedicels, about 8 mm. Tepals are 6, yellow-green, rarely green, usually ascending, elongated or ovate-elongate, 5-7 (or 8) mm long, slightly hairy at the base on the back. The capsule is upright, 1.5-2 cm long. Flowering and fruiting period: July to October.
2. Dali Rhizome (大理藜芦)
   • Description: This species differs from Narrow-leaved Rhizome mainly in its expanded conical inflorescence; the side racemes are slender, slightly curved downward, with flower stalks 7-15 mm long, longer than the small bracts. Flowering period: autumn.

Ecological Environment:

1. Narrow-leaved Rhizome: Grows in forest understories or grass slopes at altitudes of 2000-4100 meters.
2. Dali Rhizome: Found in moist, fertile areas of mountain grasslands, scrub, or sparse forests at around 2400 meters elevation.

Distribution: Found in Sichuan, Yunnan, and other regions.

Properties:

• Taste and Temperature: According to “Yunnan Traditional Chinese Medicine”: pungent, bitter, cool, highly toxic.

Effects:

• Functions: The root of the Liliaceae plants, Narrow-leaved Rhizome and Dali Rhizome, is used for contusions, fractures, paralysis, epilepsy, rheumatic pain, and traumatic bleeding.
• Main Uses: To promote blood circulation and reduce swelling, relieve pain and stop bleeding, expel phlegm, and open the orifices. Treats contusions, fractures, paralysis, epilepsy, rheumatic pain, and traumatic bleeding.

1. “Yunnan Traditional Chinese Medicine”: Reduces swelling and relieves pain. Treats contusions and rheumatic pain.
2. “Yunnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Selection”: Activates blood circulation and removes blood stasis, reduces inflammation and pain, assists in bone setting, and stops bleeding. Treats contusions, fractures, traumatic bleeding, paralysis, and epilepsy.
3. “Guizhou Medicinal Plant Directory”: Expels phlegm, induces vomiting, clears heat, and dispels wind. Treats manic disorders, colds with nasal congestion, and hemorrhage.

Dosage and Administration:

• Internal Use: Powdered, 0.03-0.06 g per dose; or steeped in liquor.
• External Use: Apply an appropriate amount, crushed and used as a poultice.

Cautions and Contraindications: Avoid combining with ginseng, Xuan Shen, Dan Shen, Sha Shen, Dang Shen, Ku Shen, Xi Xin, Shao Yao, and other herbs.

Formulas:

1. For Contusions: Soak 50 g of Dali Rhizome roots in 500 ml of white wine. Take 5 ml of the liquid and the soaked root (about 1 inch long) each time.
2. For Fractures, Paralysis, and Epilepsy: Take 2 g of dried Dali Rhizome root powder with wine or boiling water, twice a day.
3. For Traumatic Bleeding: Crush fresh Dali Rhizome root and apply it externally.
4. For Contusions and Rheumatic Pain: Use 50 mg of Narrow-leaved Rhizome three times a day with boiling water.

Pima Grass (披麻草) as described in “Kunming’s Folk Medicinal Herbs”:

• Source: Whole plant of Dali Rhizome from the Liliaceae family.
• Functions: Induces vomiting, strengthens bones, and relieves phlegm. Externally used to stop bleeding, relieve pain, and open orifices. Treats severe contusions with powdered root taken with liquor; nasal congestion and neuralgia with powdered root inhaled; traumatic bleeding with powdered root applied externally.

Scutellaria amoena C. H. Wright (滇黄芩) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Lamiaceae family. Here is an overview of its characteristics, distribution, and uses:

Morphological Characteristics

• Plant Type: Perennial herb
• Height: Up to 35 cm
• Stem: Light purple, with downturned or nearly spreading fine hairs and soft hairs along the ridges
• Leaves: Oblong-ovate or elongated oval, with a rounded or blunt tip and a rounded or shallowly heart-shaped base. The upper side is sparsely covered with fine hairs, while the underside has sparse fine hairs along the veins or is nearly hairless
• Inflorescence: A terminal raceme covered with glandular fine hairs
• Bracts: Lanceolate to oblong
• Calyx: Pale purple
• Corolla: Purple or bluish-purple, with a slightly knee-shaped tube near the base. The lower lip has near-round middle lobes and triangular side lobes
• Nutlets: Black, ovoid, with a navel-like protrusion near the base
• Flowering Period: May to September
• Fruit Period: July to October

Distribution and Habitat

• Region: Found in the central and south-central parts of Yunnan, central to northwestern Yunnan, southern Sichuan, and northwestern Guizhou, China
• Habitat: Grows in Yunnan pine forests at altitudes of 1300-3000 meters

Medicinal Value

• Taste: Bitter
• Nature: Cold
• Functions: Clears heat, drains fire, dries dampness, detoxifies, stops bleeding, and stabilizes pregnancy
• Uses: Treats lung heat cough, liver fire headache, red and swollen eyes, damp-heat jaundice, hot dysuria, bleeding disorders, and unsettled fetus

Edible Use

• The stems and leaves can be used as a tea substitute.

Morphological Features

• Root and Rhizome: Nearly vertical or oblique, thick, up to 11 mm in diameter, often branched at the top with 1-2 stems emerging, and frequently forked at the base
• Stem: Up to 35 cm tall, four-angled with slight grooves, covered with fine hairs or sparse soft hairs, often purple, with internodes 1.2-2 (3.8) cm long
• Leaves: Grass-like, oblong-ovate or elongated oval, varying in size and shape along the stem, with rounded or wedge-shaped bases, green on top and lighter underneath, sparsely hairy or nearly hairless
• Flowers: Arranged in terminal racemes 5-14 cm long, with calyx and corolla covered with glandular fine hairs; the corolla tube is slightly curved, widening towards the throat; the upper lip is helmet-shaped, and the lower lip has rounded middle lobes and triangular side lobes
• Nutlets: Ovoid, black, 1.25 mm long and about 1 mm wide, with a navel-like protrusion near the base

Main Uses

• Medicinal Uses:
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine: Used for treating heat-related symptoms
  • Tibetan Medicine: Functions similar to Scutellaria baicalensis
  • Lisu Medicine: Used for treating high fever, cough from lung heat, damp-heat dysentery, jaundice, hot dysuria, bleeding, red and swollen eyes, and unsettled fetus
  • Nuojiang Medicine: Treats fever
  • Dian Province Records: Used for cough, fever, dysentery, jaundice, hot dysuria, red and swollen eyes, boils, blood heat vomiting, and unsettled fetus
  • Yi Medicine: Treats dysentery, mumps, cough, liver pain, eye pain, respiratory infections, chronic bronchitis, acute bacterial dysentery, leptospirosis, hepatitis, nephritis, pyelonephritis, and hypertension
• Edible Value:
  • Used as a substitute for Scutellaria baicalensis in Yunnan and its stems and leaves can be used as a tea substitute.

Lijiang Mountain Toad Lily (丽江山慈菇)

Scientific Name:Iphigenia indica (L.) A.Gray ex Kunth

Family: Liliaceae

Description:

• Type: Perennial herb
• Height: 10-25 cm
• Bulb: Small, egg-shaped, white with brown membranous scales
• Stem: Single, upright, emerging from the top of the bulb
• Leaves:
  • Shape: Linear to lance-shaped, 7-15 cm long, 3-9 mm wide
  • Arrangement: Scattered, base tubular or sheath-like, clasping the stem, with a central vein, gradually narrowing towards the top
• Flowers:
  • Inflorescence: Spikelike, emerging from the leaf cluster, with a triangular shape
  • Flowers: 2-10, dark purple, in a raceme, with narrow lance-shaped tepals
  • Stamens: Purple-black, about 1/3 the length of the tepals, opposite the tepals
  • Ovary: Superior
  • Fruit: Capsule, yellow-brown, 3-chambered with numerous round brown seeds having distinct linear ribs
• Blooming Period: June to August
• Fruit Maturity: August to September

Habitat:

• Altitude: 1000-3000 meters
• Environment: Mountain slopes, grasslands, or under pine forests

Distribution:

• Regions: Central and northern Yunnan, southwestern Sichuan, western Guizhou, and Tibet, China

Reproduction:

• Methods: Typically propagated by seeds or bulbs

Medicinal Properties:

• Taste: Bitter
• Nature: Warm
• Toxicity: Highly toxic
• Functions:
  • Dispels cold
  • Relieves asthma
  • Analgesic
  • Anti-cancer
• Uses:
  • Treats bronchitis, asthma, gout, breast cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, and salivary gland tumors

Preparation and Usage:

• Harvesting: Bulbs are harvested in summer and autumn, cleaned, dried, and powdered for medicinal use.

Summary

Lijiang Mountain Toad Lily is a valuable medicinal plant with notable applications in treating respiratory conditions and various cancers. Its specific growing conditions and characteristics make it a unique and significant plant in traditional medicine.

Lijiang Mountain Toad Lily (丽江山慈菇) – Main Values and Applications

Modern Applications:

• Autumn Crocus Amide Injection: Used for various therapeutic purposes, including anti-gout and anti-cancer treatments.

Pharmacological Actions:

• Anti-Gout: Helps in alleviating symptoms of gout.
• Anti-Inflammatory: Reduces inflammation.
• Anti-Tumor: Exhibits properties that inhibit tumor growth.
• Scar Proliferation Inhibition: Prevents excessive scar formation.
• Adhesion Prevention: Reduces the formation of adhesions.
• Hepatoprotective: Protects the liver.
• Gastrointestinal Irritation: May stimulate the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Medicinal Value:

• Properties: Bitter, slightly pungent, warm, highly toxic.
• Uses:
  • Traditional: Disperses cold, relieves asthma, analgesic, anti-cancer, dissolves masses, and stops pain.
  • Conditions Treated: Includes bronchitis, asthma, gout, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, scrofula, skin tumors, nasopharyngeal cancer, and salivary gland tumors. [7]

Pharmacological Value:

• Cervical Cancer Treatment:
  • Formula: 18g Lijiang Mountain Toad Lily, 10g Arsenic, 12g Realgar, 18g Alum, 10g Borax, 3g Cnidii Fructus, 3g Borneol, 0.3g Musk. Grind into a fine powder and apply externally. (From “Anti-Cancer Plant Medicines and Their Recipes”)
• Internal Use:
  • Preparation: Grind to a powder (0.3-0.6g) and steam with honey.
• External Use:
  • Preparation: Fresh product, crushed and mixed with vinegar for topical application.

Collection and Processing:

• Harvesting: Summer and autumn, remove stems, leaves, and rootlets, clean, and dry.
• Processing: Remove impurities from the raw material, then crush when used.

Storage:

• Conditions: Store in a dry, cool, and ventilated place, protect from pests and mold.

Usage Cautions:

• Toxicity: Excessive use can lead to poisoning. Use with caution, especially in the elderly, those with kidney, gastrointestinal, or heart conditions, and avoid use during pregnancy.
• Misidentification Risks: The bulb of Lijiang Mountain Toad Lily resembles that of Fritillaria (川贝母), leading to potential poisoning incidents if mistaken for Fritillaria. Proper identification is crucial.

Identification:

• Appearance: Irregular short-conical bulb, 0.7-2 cm in diameter, 1-1.5 cm high. Tapered apex, often with a depressed or flat base. Surface color ranges from yellow-white to gray-yellow brown, smooth with a longitudinal groove. Hard texture, fracture surface is horn-like or slightly powdery, white or yellow-white. Bitter and slightly numbing taste.

Herbal Material Characteristics

1. Bulb Characteristics:
   • Shape: Irregular short-conical
   • Diameter: 0.7-2 cm
   • Height: 1-1.5 cm
   • Apex: Tapering
   • Base: Often indented or flat
   • Surface: Yellowish-white or grayish-brown, smooth, with a longitudinal groove extending from the base to the apex
   • Texture: Hard, with a fracture surface that is corky or slightly powdery, whitish or yellowish-white
   • Taste: Bitter with a slight numbing effect
2. Microscopic Identification:
   • Cross-Section of the Bulb:
     • Epidermal Cells: Single layer, flat, 30-60 μm long, 18-23 μm thick
     • Inner Tissue: Broad parenchyma with sparse vascular bundles, each bundle containing 3-7 xylem vessels with annular or reticulate thickenings, diameter 9-45 μm
     • Starch Granules: Found in parenchyma cells, mostly single, irregularly round or semi-lunar, with star-shaped or punctate hilum; many starch granules are gelatinized
3. Physicochemical Identification:
   • Take 1 g of powdered material, add 10 ml of 85% ethanol, and reflux on a water bath for 10 minutes. Filter while hot. Take 1 ml of the filtrate, evaporate to dryness on a water bath, dissolve in 6 mol/L hydrochloric acid, boil for 2-3 minutes, add 1-2 drops of ferric chloride solution. A greenish-brown color indicates the presence of the substance. Add a few drops of chloroform, shake, and the chloroform layer should show a yellowish-brown color.

Dosage and Administration:

• 1 to 2 fen, ground into powder and steamed with an appropriate amount of honey.

Summary

Lijiang Mountain Toad Lily is a potent medicinal herb with a range of therapeutic uses, especially noted for its anti-cancer properties. It requires careful handling due to its toxicity and similarity to other herbs that could lead to accidental poisoning. Proper processing and storage are essential to maintain its efficacy and safety.

Dengzhan Xixin灯盏细辛, a traditional Chinese medicine, refers to the dried whole herb of the Compositae family plant Erigeron breviscapus. It is harvested in the summer and autumn seasons, with impurities removed and then sun-dried. The herb has a pungent, slightly bitter taste and is warm in nature. It targets the heart and liver meridians. Dengzhan Xixin is known for promoting blood circulation, unblocking channels, relieving pain, dispelling wind, and dispersing cold. It is commonly used for treating conditions such as stroke-induced hemiplegia, chest pain due to heart disease, rheumatic pain, headache, and toothache.

During the extensive promotion of Chinese herbal medicine in the last century, an elderly Miao Chinese medicine practitioner in his 90s from Qiubei County, Wenshan, shared a remedy: using Dengzhanhua (the flower of Dengzhan Xixin) boiled with eggs to treat cerebral hemiplegia. Clinical trials conducted by the Provincial Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and other organizations confirmed that extracts from this plant are highly effective in treating cerebral hemiplegia, coronary heart disease, cerebral thrombosis, cerebral hemorrhage, and cerebral embolism. Since then, this small flower has gradually gained prominence in Yunnan Province’s pharmaceutical industry.

The earliest systematic research on Dengzhan Xixin began at the Yunnan Provincial Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, initially focusing on studies related to Dengzhanhua extract and scutellarin (a flavonoid compound found in the herb). With the growing popularity of products such as “Dengzhanhua Injection,” “Hua Tuo Zao Wan,” “Scutellarin Tablets,” and “Yimai Kang Tablets,” research and development on Dengzhan Xixin have seen a surge in interest. Dengzhan Xixin is highly effective, has a long history of use, and enjoys a strong social foundation, with minimal side effects, making it well-liked by users. It has now been listed as a key Chinese herbal medicine for national development and an essential emergency medication in traditional Chinese medicine for treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Pharmacological References:

• “Dian Nan Ben Cao”: Dengzhan Xixin is commonly used for treating injuries, with effects of dispersing cold, reducing inflammation, and relieving pain.
• “Guangxi Pharmacopoeia”: It is used to treat head sores in children.
• “Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine”: It has effects of dispersing cold, strengthening the spleen, eliminating stagnation, reducing inflammation, and relieving pain.
• “Selected Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicines”: It disperses cold, relieves the exterior, stops pain, promotes blood circulation, and activates muscles. It is used to treat toothache, acute gastritis, high fever, traumatic injuries, rheumatic pain, chest pain, malaria, post-polio syndrome, paralysis caused by encephalitis, and schistosomiasis.

The Guardian of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Health—Dengzhan Xixin

Dengzhan Xixin contains complex chemical components and has a wide range of pharmacological effects, exhibiting characteristics of multi-component, multi-target, and holistic regulation in its therapeutic actions. The components responsible for its cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective effects are primarily flavonoids like scutellarin, which work through mechanisms such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet aggregation, vasodilation, and neuron protection. Clinically, it is widely used for ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and has shown good efficacy in treating viral myocarditis, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and hypertension.

Research by Lin et al. found that scutellarin can protect against acute myocardial infarction and focal cerebral ischemia caused by cardio-cerebral ischemia, reducing the infarct size in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, scutellarin can inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis, reduce oxidative stress, and protect against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Subarachnoid hemorrhage complicated by cerebral vasospasm is a major cause of death and disability, and scutellarin can reduce mortality and disability rates by mitigating vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage. Therefore, as the “guardian” of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health, Dengzhan Xixin has significant advantages in preventing the development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Yunzhi Refined Medicinal Slices – Dengzhan Xixin

1. Basic Information

• Product Name: Dengzhan Xixin – The Guardian of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Health
• Specification: 10g per bag
• Origin: Hainan
• Properties: Pungent, slightly bitter; Warm in nature; Targets the heart and liver meridians
• Effects: Activates blood circulation, unblocks channels, relieves pain, dispels wind, and disperses cold
• Indications: Used for stroke-induced hemiplegia, chest pain due to heart disease, rheumatic pain, headache, and toothache
• Usage and Dosage: Oral intake of 9-15g; External use as needed
• Manufacturer: Guangdong Yunzhi Traditional Chinese Medicine Slices Co., Ltd.

2. Application and Promotion

Neurology – Ischemic Stroke

• Dengzhan Xixin injection can alleviate vascular spasms in the ischemic area, improve collateral circulation, reduce brain tissue damage, and lower disability rates. The total flavonoids in Dengzhan Xixin can prevent glucose-induced circulatory congestion by increasing cerebral blood flow and reducing vascular resistance.

Internal Medicine – Coronary Heart Disease and Angina

• The cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective components of Dengzhan Xixin are primarily flavonoids such as scutellarin. These components act through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet aggregation, vasodilation, and neuron-protective mechanisms.

Cardiology – Viral Myocarditis

• Scutellarin injection combined with phosphocreatine can reduce inflammation and myocardial damage. Dengzhan Xixin injection combined with Myocardial Protection Granules is used to treat viral myocarditis.

3. Manufacturer Information

Guangdong Yunzhi Traditional Chinese Medicine Slices Co., Ltd.

• Overview: Part of Zhongzhi Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, stock code 03737.HK), established in November 2019 in Yunfu City. The company invested 350 million RMB in the project, covering 200 acres.
• Focus: Specializes in the production of small-packaged traditional Chinese medicine slices, refined slices, and the research and development of new types of traditional Chinese medicine slices (such as decoction slices). The company aims to become a leading platform for the development, production, and testing of high-quality traditional Chinese medicine slices in Guangdong Province.

Botanical Characteristics

• Type: Perennial herb, 5-50 cm tall.
• Root: Thick, woody, with numerous fibrous roots.
• Stem: Erect, with a few branching umbels, covered with short, hard hairs or glandular hairs.
• Leaves: Basal leaves form a rosette, spoon-shaped or lanceolate, 1.5-11 cm long, 0.5-2.5 cm wide, with blunt tips and small pointed apices; stem leaves are few, often 2-4, long oval or lanceolate, 1-4 cm long, 0.5-1 cm wide, semi-enveloping the stem at the base, and without petioles.
• Habitat: Grows in mountainous areas, under sparse forests, in grasslands, or on sunny slopes.

Production Method

• Preparation: Remove soil, bundle into small bunches, dry in the shade, or properly oven-dry.

Properties

• Taste: Pungent, slightly bitter; Warm.
• Meridians: Targets the heart and liver meridians.
• Effects: Activates blood circulation, unblocks channels, relieves pain, dispels wind, and disperses cold.
• Indications: Stroke-induced hemiplegia, chest pain due to heart disease, rheumatic pain, headache, and toothache.
• Usage and Dosage: 9-15g, either decocted or powdered and used with eggs. For external use, apply as needed.

Relevant Literature

1. “Guangxi Medicinal Plant Directory”: “Used for treating head sores in children.”
2. “Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicine”: “Disperses cold, strengthens the spleen, eliminates stagnation, reduces inflammation, and relieves pain.”
3. “Selected Yunnan Chinese Herbal Medicines”: “Disperses cold, relieves the exterior, stops pain, promotes blood circulation, and activates muscles. Treats toothache, acute gastritis, high fever, traumatic injuries, rheumatic pain, chest pain, malaria, post-polio syndrome, paralysis due to encephalitis, and schistosomiasis.”

Fritillaria refers to a genus of perennial herbaceous plants in the Liliaceae family. The bulbs are deeply buried in the soil and covered with bulb scales. The stems are erect and unbranched, with basal leaves that have long stalks; the stem leaves are opposite, whorled, or scattered. The flowers are large or slightly smaller, typically bell-shaped, nodding, radially symmetrical, borne singly at the top or in racemes or umbels, and have leafy bracts. The seeds are numerous, flat, and have narrow wings along the edges. The plant derives its name from its shape, as noted in the Bencao Jing Jizhu, which states, “The shape resembles clustered cowries,” hence the name “Fritillaria.”

There are now over 85 species of Fritillaria, mainly distributed in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in the Mediterranean region, North America, and Central Asia. In China, the number of Fritillaria species far exceeds the original 20 species and two varieties. Fritillaria prefers a cool and moist climate, is hardy, but dislikes hot and dry conditions. It thrives in sunny environments with well-drained clay and can also grow in partial shade. After flowering, the bulbs wither and go dormant during the summer. To prevent the bulbs from rotting in the soil due to moisture, they should be dug up when the leaves turn yellow and stored in moist sawdust, sand, or peat.

Fritillaria has a long history of use in China. The earliest record is found in the Han Dynasty’s Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, where it is classified as a middle-grade herb. It is commonly used to clear heat, moisten the lungs, dissolve phlegm, and relieve cough, making it a frequently used traditional Chinese medicine for bronchitis and chronic bronchitis. It is suitable for use as an undergrowth plant in forests, and alpine species are ideal for rock gardens. Some species with less odor can also be used as cut flowers.

Botanical History

Origin and Distribution Research The establishment of the genus Fritillaria dates back to the 1550s, named “Fritillaria L.” by Linnaeus in Species Plantarum and Genera Plantarum. According to records, the genus contains about 60 species divided into five sections: Sect. Fritillaria (Fritillaria group), Sect. Rhinopetalum (Rhinopetalum group), Sect. Petillium (Petillium group), Sect. Theresia (Theresia group), and Sect. Liliorhiza (Liliorhiza group). The distribution range lies between latitudes 26°N and 65°N. In the Eurasian distribution area, the northern boundary is about 58°N to 60°N, such as the distribution of Fritillaria meleagris Linn. and Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don. The southernmost species, like Fritillaria cirrhosa, are found in the Hengduan Mountains of Yunnan, China, around Yangbi, Dali, and Luquan, approximately at latitude 26°N. The easternmost species, Fritillaria camtschatcensis, are around 160°E, while the westernmost species, Fritillaria lusitania, are at approximately 9°W. In North America, the northern boundary of the distribution is in Wales, Alaska, around 65°N, 168°W, which represents the western and northern boundaries of Fritillaria distribution in North America. The southern boundary is around 32°N, as seen in Fritillaria biflora. The Mediterranean region has the most species of Fritillaria. Although only 39 species and three subspecies are distributed in the Iran-Turkey region, this area contains four of the five sections of Fritillaria, including the primitive Sect. Fritillaria and the more specialized Sect. Petillium, Sect. Rhinopetalum, and Sect. Theresia. However, the highly evolved Sect. Liliorhiza is not found in this region. The region not only has many primitive species but also has more specialized groups, making Iran-Turkey a diversification center for Fritillaria species. However, due to environmental influences, Fritillaria species have not fully developed in this region. In contrast, in the Mediterranean region, species from Sect. Fritillaria have undergone significant development, making it the center of abundance for the genus.

Morphological Characteristics

Fritillaria is a perennial herb with bulbs deeply buried in the soil, covered by bulb scales. Typically, the bulbs consist of 2(-3) whitish scales (each scale having 2-3 pairs of small inner scales), though some species have multiple scales surrounded by numerous small grain-like scales. The former type of bulb is nearly ovoid or spherical, while the latter often forms a rosette-like structure. The stem is erect, unbranched, with a portion located underground. Basal leaves have long stalks; stem leaves are opposite, whorled, or scattered, with tips that may or may not curl, and the base semi-clasping the stem.

The flowers are relatively large or slightly smaller, usually bell-shaped, nodding (but the pedicel gradually turns upwards after fertilization, becoming erect during the fruiting period), radially symmetrical, with a few slightly bilaterally symmetrical. They are either solitary or arranged in racemes or umbels, with leaf-like bracts. The tepals are oblong, spatulate to narrowly ovate, often fused, with a nectary at the base of the inner surface. There are 6 stamens, with basifixed or dorsifixed anthers that are two-lobed and dehisce inwardly. The style is 3-lobed or nearly entire; the stigma extends beyond the stamens. The ovary is trilocular with 2 rows of ovules per locule, with a central placentation. The capsule is 6-angled, often winged, and dehisces along the dorsal suture. Seeds are numerous, flat, with narrow wings along the edges.

Growth Environment

The growth environments for Fritillaria species vary slightly. For instance, Fritillaria cirrhosa typically grows in forests, under shrubs, on grasslands, riverbanks, or in mountain valleys and rock crevices. Fritillaria thunbergii thrives in shaded areas or bamboo groves on lower-altitude hills. Fritillaria ussuriensis is found in low-altitude forests, meadows, or river valleys. Fritillaria pallidiflora grows at altitudes of 1300-2000 meters in forests, grasslands, or sandy crevices, while Fritillaria przewalskii grows at altitudes of 1800-2300 meters in riverbank meadows, rock crevices, or moist, rocky areas. Fritillaria karelinii is commonly found in arid deserts or Artemisia steppes.

Fritillaria prefers cool, moist climates, is cold-hardy, and avoids hot, dry conditions. It thrives in sunny environments with well-drained clay but can also grow in semi-shaded conditions. After flowering, the bulb withers and enters a dormant phase during the summer. To prevent rot caused by moisture in the soil, the bulbs should be lifted when the leaves turn yellow and stored in moist sawdust, sand, or peat.

Distribution Range

Fritillaria is primarily distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, especially in the Mediterranean region, North America, and Central Asia, with the most diverse species found in the northern Mediterranean, Iran, and Turkey. In China, Fritillaria species are found in all provinces except Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Jiangxi, Inner Mongolia, and Guizhou (where their presence is suspected but not confirmed by specimen collection). The most species-rich regions are Sichuan (8 species) and Xinjiang (6 species). Based on distribution areas, they are generally divided into the Hengduan Mountains and adjacent regions, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the Xinjiang region.

Growth Habits

Fritillaria species have slightly different growth habits depending on the specific environmental conditions and geographical regions in which they are found.

Major Value

Medicinal Value

The herbal medicine “Fritillaria” refers to the dried bulbs of the Fritillaria plant, which has a long history of use in China. The earliest record dates back to the Han dynasty’s “Shennong Ben Cao Jing,” where it is listed as a medium-grade herb. It is commonly used to clear heat, moisten the lungs, resolve phlegm, and relieve cough. The Fritillaria-derived medicinal materials are categorized into six types based on their source: Fritillaria cirrhosa, Fritillaria thunbergii, Fritillaria pallidiflora, Fritillaria verticillata, Fritillaria ussuriensis, and Fritillaria anhuiensis, with Fritillaria anhuiensis being the only type not included in the 2015 edition of the “Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China.” Fritillaria cirrhosa is considered the highest quality, sourced from various species including Fritillaria cirrhosa, Fritillaria unibracteata, Fritillaria przewalskii, Fritillaria taipaiensis, and Fritillaria delavayi. Fritillaria thunbergii is the most commercially available, with its primary source being Fritillaria thunbergii and its variant Fritillaria thunbergii var. platyphylla. Fritillaria pallidiflora is sourced from Fritillaria pallidiflora and Fritillaria verticillata. Fritillaria ussuriensis is the dried bulb of Fritillaria ussuriensis, widely cultivated in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, with a production second only to Fritillaria thunbergii. Fritillaria anhuiensis is the dried bulb of Fritillaria anhuiensis, a new type of Fritillaria medicinal material developed in the 20th century.

The bioactive compounds in Fritillaria, primarily alkaloids, have been found in over 130 varieties, most of which are steroidal alkaloids. These alkaloids are categorized into two main types based on their carbon skeleton: isosteroidal alkaloids and steroidal alkaloids. The isosteroidal alkaloids are further divided into cevanine (A), jervine (B), and veratramine (C) types based on the E and F ring connections, with 80% being cevanine, making it a characteristic chemical component of the Fritillaria genus. Steroidal alkaloids are divided into solanidine (D) and secosolanidine (E) types based on the connection of the nitrogen element to the indole or piperidine ring.

Economic Value

Due to its significant medicinal and economic value, Fritillaria (Bei Mu) has become an important source of income for local communities in the production regions.

Ornamental Value

Fritillaria is suitable as an understory ground cover plant, with alpine species ideal for rock gardens, and those with minimal odor can be used as cut flowers. The flowers of Fritillaria are graceful and elegant, with unique and attractive fruit and leaf forms, and the blossoms are vibrant and colorful. Some species have a delicate and pleasant fragrance that is soothing and refreshing.

Outside of China, species such as Fritillaria persica, Fritillaria meleagris, and Fritillaria thunbergii (Zhe Bei Mu) are cultivated as ornamental plants. In Europe and North America, Fritillaria species are often planted in gardens or containers for decorative purposes, showcasing the ornamental value of this genus. In China, only a few species are used for landscaping and beautification, such as Fritillaria pallidiflora and Fritillaria ussuriensis, which are early spring ephemeral plants and valuable genetic resources for early spring flowers and landscaping in northern China. Fritillaria thunbergii is suitable for cultivation under forest canopies and is ideal for shaded environments.

Fritillaria blooms early in the year (February to May), with bell-shaped, drooping flowers. The perianth segments vary in color (yellow, yellow with purple spots, yellow-green with purple squares, purple-red with white spots, white, etc.), with green or purple-red stems, and leaves that are either broad and ribbon-like (Anhui Bei Mu) or fine and silky (Southern Anhui Bei Mu), with curled or hooked leaf tips. These characteristics make it an excellent flower for early spring viewing. Among these, Fritillaria anhuiensis, Fritillaria hupehensis, Fritillaria anhuiensis var. hupehensis, and Fritillaria hupehensis var. alba have high ornamental value and are suitable for planting in gardens and along roadsides. These species are easy to cultivate and propagate, and when introduced to Hefei, they have grown and multiplied well.

Cultural Significance

Fritillaria gets its name from its shape. As described in the “Annotations on the Materia Medica,” it is named “Bei Mu” because it resembles a cluster of shells.

Snow Lotus (Saussurea involucrata, Kar. & Kir., Sch. Bip.) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family and the genus Saussurea. The stems of the Snow Lotus are hairless, and the leaves are oval or ovate-elliptic, with both surfaces being hairless. The uppermost leaves are bract-like and broadly ovate. The flower heads are densely packed into spherical clusters at the top of the stem, with elongated outer layers. The fruit is elongated, and the flowering and fruiting period is from July to September.

Snow Lotus predominantly grows on the snowy plateau, standing tall and elegant, resembling a lotus flower, pure white like jade, hence the name “Snow Lotus.” The plant is native to Xinjiang, China, and is also found in Russia and Kazakhstan. It grows in the crevices of high mountains, near the snow line on icy cliffs and gravel slopes, with extreme cold resistance and a preference for high humidity. The main method of propagation is by seed.

The entire plant of Snow Lotus can be used medicinally and is a common herb among ethnic groups such as the Uyghur. It is sweet and warm, slightly bitter, and enters the liver and kidney meridians. It can dispel wind and dampness, strengthen tendons and bones, tonify kidney yang, regulate menstruation, stop bleeding, and can be applied externally for treating bleeding from injuries. However, it should not be used by pregnant women. Due to its jade-like color, beautiful purple flowers, and fragrant scent, it is regarded as a symbol of love by young men and women.

Morphological Characteristics

Snow Lotus is a perennial herb in the genus Saussurea, growing to a height of 15–35 cm. The rhizome is thick, with the neck surrounded by numerous brown leaves. The stem is sturdy, with a base diameter of 2–3 cm and hairless. The leaves are densely packed, with basal and stem leaves being sessile. The leaf blades are oval or ovate-elliptic, up to 14 cm long and 2–3.5 cm wide, with a blunt or acute tip, base decurrent, with sharp teeth on the margin, and both surfaces are hairless. The uppermost leaves are bract-like, membranous, pale yellow, broadly ovate, 5.5–7 cm long, 2–7 cm wide, surrounding the inflorescence, with sharp teeth on the margin.

The flower heads number 10–20, densely packed into spherical clusters at the top of the stem, with no or short pedicels. The involucre is hemispherical, 1 cm in diameter; involucral bracts are in 3–4 layers, with purple-brown margins or entirely purple-brown, with a sharply pointed tip, and the outer layer sparsely covered with long soft hairs. The outer layer is elongated, 1.1 cm long and 5 mm wide, the middle and inner layers are lanceolate, 1.5–1.8 cm long, and 2 mm wide. The florets are purple, 1.6 cm long, with a tube 7 mm long, and the limb 9 mm long. The achenes are oblong, 3 mm long. The pappus is dirty white, in 2 layers, the outer layer small and rough, 3 mm long, the inner layer long and feathery, 1.5 cm long.

Habitat and Distribution

Snow Lotus is distributed in China, Russia, and Kazakhstan, and within China, it is found in Urumqi, Bogda Mountain, and Heshuo County in Xinjiang. It mainly grows in the weathered zone and rock crevices above the snow line at altitudes of 3600–4800 meters, in gravelly and sandy wetlands, preferring humid and cool environments with intense sunlight. It can germinate and grow normally at temperatures between 5–39°C. During its peak flowering period, it blooms resiliently in the face of cold winds, snow, and scorching sunlight, demonstrating remarkable vitality.

Growth Habits

The flowering and fruiting period is from July to September. The environment where Snow Lotus grows is extremely harsh, often in conditions where other plants cannot survive. Snow Lotus thrives in subzero temperatures and oxygen-deficient conditions, demonstrating strong resilience. This unique survival habit and its distinctive growing environment contribute to its natural rarity and unique medicinal properties.

The yield of Snow Lotus is very low. It takes five years from germination to flowering, with seeds germinating at 0°C and growing at 3–5°C. The seedlings can withstand temperatures as low as -21°C, yet the actual growing period is less than two months. During this brief growing period, Snow Lotus exhibits vigorous vitality, with plant height surpassing that of other plants by five to seven times.

Like other organisms, Snow Lotus requires sunlight, water, and nutrients during its growth. Although it grows in frost-weathered zones, the soil there is still somewhat developed, with the soil formation process mainly dominated by alpine meadows. The soil is rich in humus, with organic matter content generally ranging from 9.5–11%, nitrogen content from 4.5–10%, and good water retention capacity. The annual precipitation is about 500 mm, providing the conditions necessary for the reproduction and growth of higher plants. In such harsh high-altitude conditions, Snow Lotus grows slowly and takes at least 4–5 years to bloom and set seed.

Main Value

The Snow Lotus (Saussurea involucrata) is warm in nature, with a sweet and bitter taste. It enters the liver, spleen, and kidney meridians and has the effects of dispelling cold, invigorating yang, regulating menstruation, and stopping bleeding. It is used to treat impotence, weakness in the waist and knees, menstrual irregularities in women, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, rheumatoid arthritis, and external injuries with bleeding.

According to the “Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica,” Snow Lotus is described as “extremely hot in nature, capable of replenishing essence and enhancing yang.” The “Xinjiang Materia Medica” records that Snow Lotus is warm and slightly bitter, with the function of dispelling wind and eliminating dampness.

Snow Lotus contains proteins, amino acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and other compounds. The vitamin C in Snow Lotus can soften blood vessels, prevent aging, remove wrinkles, and reduce lipid accumulation, improving microcirculation. It gives the skin a healthy glow, prevents the carcinogenic process caused by chemicals, achieving anti-cancer, cancer treatment, and life extension effects.

Current Status

Protection Status
In 1996, Snow Lotus was listed as a Class II protected plant in China. It is the only Snow Lotus species included in the “China Plant Red Book” and is classified as a Class III endangered species in China.
In 2000, China issued an explicit ban on the excavation of wild Snow Lotus through Document No. 13 of the State Council.
In 2007, the “List of Key Protected Wild Plants in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (First Batch)” listed Snow Lotus as a Class I key protected wild plant.
In 2021, Snow Lotus was listed as a national Class II protected wild plant in China’s “List of National Key Protected Wild Plants.”

Population Status
Wild Snow Lotus relies on seed reproduction and has a growth period of 6–8 years. If uprooted, Snow Lotus cannot grow back in the same spot.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Snow Lotus could be found on gravelly slopes at an altitude of around 1,800 meters. At that time, the area of Snow Lotus in Xinjiang, China, was about 50 million mu (approximately 33,000 square kilometers), but by 2015, it had dwindled to less than 10 million mu (approximately 6,600 square kilometers).
Every year from July to August, the wild Snow Lotus in the Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang blooms. However, during this time, large numbers of illegal harvesters flock to areas near the snow line at altitudes above 3,000 meters to dig up the plants. Local experts have repeatedly warned that if this behavior is not curbed, Snow Lotus, this precious species, may disappear from the earth in a few years.

Conservation Measures
To address the contradiction between the depletion of Snow Lotus resources and the increasing market demand, it is essential to seek ways to protect and develop Snow Lotus plant resources.
Advances in biotechnology have driven the modernization of medicinal plant resource production methods for Snow Lotus. Utilizing plant tissue culture technology to rapidly propagate rare and endangered medicinal plants like Snow Lotus is an important means of promoting resource regeneration and development, while also protecting the environment.
Cell culture technology, a high-tech method developed internationally in recent years, is also a widely accepted and mature technique. This technology involves cultivating isolated plant organs, tissues, cells, embryos, or protoplasts on an artificially prepared medium under sterile and controlled conditions, leading to the proliferation of tissues or cells according to specific needs.
The advantages of cell culture technology include a fast reproduction rate, short cultivation cycle, environmentally friendly process, small footprint, and the ability to cultivate plants independently of the growing season.
To protect Snow Lotus, the Xinjiang Wild Plant Protection Association’s Snow Lotus Protection Branch has carried out public awareness campaigns in Tianshan pastures and among tourists, aiming to prevent illegal harvesting activities.
The Xinjiang Institute of Physics and Chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has also utilized cloning and tissue culture techniques to begin artificial cultivation of Snow Lotus in the Tianshan Pools since 2004. Some of these Snow Lotus plants have already flowered, potentially opening a new avenue to replace wild Snow Lotus for the pharmaceutical market.
According to Article 344 of the “Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China,” illegal logging, destruction of precious trees, or other nationally protected plants, or the illegal purchase, transportation, processing, or sale of precious trees or other nationally protected plants and their products, is punishable by up to three years of imprisonment, criminal detention, or control, and fines; in severe cases, the penalty is three to seven years of imprisonment and fines.
On July 12, 2019, the city of Fukang in Changji Prefecture, Xinjiang, carried out Snow Lotus seedling protection and cultivation work in the Mayashan Scenic Area of the Tianshan Tianchi. The 10,000 artificially planted Snow Lotus plants are growing well.

Plant Culture

Folklore
In the past, highland herdsmen considered encountering Snow Lotus during their travels to be a sign of good fortune and treated it as a sacred object. Legend has it that these snow lotuses were scattered by the fairies while the Queen Mother of the West bathed in the Jade Pool, and the snow peak across at an altitude of over 5,000 meters served as a beautiful mirror. Snow Lotus is regarded as a divine object. Drinking the dew drops from its bracts was believed to ward off evil, cure diseases, and extend life.

Plant Symbolism
Snow Lotus represents pure love, resilience, purity, and brings hope to people.

Ehretia corylifolia (commonly known as Dian Houpo厚朴) is a member of the family Ehretiaceae and the genus Ehretia. It can be a shrub or a tree. The tree has brown-gray bark, brown young branches with lenticels, and green, hairy young shoots. The leaves are thick and papery, ranging from ovate to elliptical. The flowers are densely arranged in terminal panicles, and the fruits are nearly spherical, elliptical, or ovoid. The flowering and fruiting period is from April to September. It grows at altitudes of 800–3000 meters in forest understories, shrublands, forest edges, and along roadsides.

Morphological Characteristics

• Growth Form: Shrub or tree, 2–18 meters tall.
• Bark: Brown-gray; young branches are brown with lenticels; young shoots are green and hairy.
• Leaves: Thick and papery; ovate to elliptical, 7–18 cm long and 4–12 cm wide; tip acute or gradually acuminate, base often heart-shaped, occasionally rounded or slightly blunt; margin serrated; green on top with coarse, appressed hairs, and pale green underneath with dense, soft, and curved hairs; the first-order lateral veins 6–8 pairs, and the central vein raised on the underside, second and third-order veins prominent and reticulate.
• Inflorescence: Terminal panicles, 4–9 cm long and 5–8 cm wide, densely hairy; flowers numerous and dense; pedicels 1–1.5 mm long, hairy; calyx 3–4 mm long, deeply 5-lobed, lobes lanceolate, 2–3 mm long, hairy on the outside; corolla white, occasionally pale yellow or pink, 9–12 mm long, 5-lobed, narrowly ovate or nearly triangular, about 3 mm long, usually recurved or folded, with fine hairs on the outer surface, cylindrical tube, expanding upward; stamens cylindrical, gradually narrowing, 4–5 mm long, inserted 4 mm above the base of the tube; anthers ovate, 1–1.5 mm long; ovary small; style cylindrical, 7–8 mm long, sparsely covered with appressed fine hairs, bifid at the tip, stigma brown.
• Fruit: Nearly spherical, elliptical, or ovoid, 5–7 mm long, green turning yellow to orange, smooth surface, splitting into two nuts each containing two seeds when mature.

Growth Environment

Grows at altitudes of 800–3000 meters in forest understories, shrublands, forest edges, and along roadsides.

Distribution

Found in Yunnan (northwest, central, and west Yunnan), Sichuan, and Guizhou.

Main Uses

• Bark: Can be used to make paper; in traditional Yunnan medicine, it replaces Houttuynia cordata.
• Leaves and Fruits: Edible; leaves can be used as pig feed.
• Wood: Suitable for construction, furniture, and shipbuilding.

Physiological Characteristics

1. Dry Bark: Cylindrical or double cylindrical, 30–875 px long, 0.2–17.5 px thick, known as “cylinder bark”; near the root, the dry bark expands into a trumpet shape, 13–625 px long, 0.3–20 px thick, known as “boot cylinder bark”. The outer surface is gray-brown or grayish-brown, rough, sometimes scaly, and tends to peel off easily, with distinct oval lenticels and longitudinal wrinkles; scraped rough bark reveals yellow-brown color. The inner surface is purple-brown or deep purple-brown, relatively smooth with fine longitudinal lines, and shows an oily streak when scratched. It is hard, not easily broken, with a granular fracture surface, outer layer gray-brown, inner layer purple-brown or brown, with oiliness, and sometimes small bright stars visible. The smell is fragrant, with a spicy and slightly bitter taste.
2. Root Bark (Root Houpo): Single cylindrical or irregular chunks; some curved like chicken intestines, known as “chicken intestine bark”. Hard, relatively easy to break, with a fibrous fracture surface.
3. Branch Bark (Branch Houpo): Single cylindrical, 10–500 px long, 0.1–5 px thick. Brittle, easily broken, with a fibrous fracture surface.

Hu Huang Lian (Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (Pennell) D. Y. Hong) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Plantaginaceae family. Its name is similar to that of Huang Lian, and both are known for their bitter and cold properties, used to clear heat and dry dampness, particularly effective in removing damp-heat from the stomach and intestines. They are both excellent remedies for treating damp-heat-induced diarrhea and dysentery. Hu Huang Lian is particularly effective in reducing deficient heat and relieving malnutrition-related heat, while Huang Lian is known for clearing heart fire and stomach fire, and is a key medicine for detoxification. It is found in India and Indonesia.

Morphological Characteristics:

Hu Huang Lian is a perennial herb with hairs. The rhizome is cylindrical, slightly woody, and 15-20 cm long. The leaves are nearly basal and slightly leathery; the leaf blade is spatulate, 5-10 cm long, with a sharp tip, and the base narrows into a winged, sheathing petiole with fine serrations along the edges. The flower stalk is longer than the leaves; the inflorescence is a 5-10 cm long spike with a few bracts below; the bracts are oblong or lanceolate, and equal in length to the calyx; the calyx has five lanceolate sepals, each about 5 mm long, with marginal hairs; the corolla is shorter than the calyx, with five equal lobes at the apex, which are ovate and have marginal hairs, with sparse soft hairs inside and nearly glabrous outside; there are four stamens with slender filaments extending out of the corolla, without hairs; the ovary is two-chambered, with a slender style and a single stigma. The capsule is ovoid, about 6 mm long, slightly grooved on the sides, and primarily dehisces between the chambers. The seeds are oblong, about 1 mm long. The flowering period is June, and the fruiting period is July.

Differences from Similar Species:

• Hu Huang Lian: Grows in China (Tibet, Yunnan) and Nepal, characterized by a long corolla type.
• Picrorhiza kurrooa: Found in Pakistan, characterized by a short corolla type.

Growth Environment:

It grows on rocks and stone piles, or in shallow soil on sunny slopes, in alpine meadows at altitudes of 3,600 to 4,400 meters.

Main Value:

Therapeutic Effects: Clears heat, cools the blood, and dries dampness. Treats malnutrition, epilepsy, dysentery, consumptive fever with bone steaming, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, hemoptysis, epistaxis, conjunctivitis, hemorrhoids, and abscesses.

1. Tang Materia Medica: Treats consumptive fever with bone steaming, strengthens the liver and gallbladder, improves vision, treats hot and cold dysentery, enhances complexion, strengthens the stomach and intestines, treats women’s postpartum hot flashes and nervousness, thirst from diabetes, hemorrhoids, and restlessness; soaking in human milk and applying to the eyes is very effective.
2. Kai Bao Materia Medica: Treats chronic dysentery, malnutrition, cold and cough, warm malaria, bone fever, regulates the waist and kidneys, eliminates night sweats, treats children’s epilepsy, cold and heat, poor appetite, and cholera dysentery.
3. Danxi’s Mastery of Medicine: Removes accumulated fruit in the intestines.
4. Orthodox Materia Medica: Treats hemoptysis and epistaxis.

Formulas:

1. For malnutrition and fever: 5 qian (approx. 15 g) of Chuan Huang Lian, 5 qian of Hu Huang Lian, and 1 qian of cinnabar (grind separately). Grind the first two into fine powder, add the cinnabar powder, fill it into a pig’s gallbladder, and boil it in light brine water without letting it touch the bottom of the pot. After a meal, grind the medicine and form it into pills the size of sesame seeds. Take 5-7 pills with rice water after meals.
2. For malnutrition with abdominal bloating, tidal fever, and hair dryness in children: 5 qian of Hu Huang Lian and 1 liang (approx. 30 g) of spirit-resin incense. Grind into powder and mix with boar bile juice to form pills the size of mung beans. Administer 1-2 pills with rice water.
3. For dysentery with bloody stools: Equal parts of Hu Huang Lian, Wu Mei (Mume fruit) flesh, and stove ash. Grind into powder and take with tea before meals, on an empty stomach.
4. For hot dysentery and abdominal pain: Hu Huang Lian powder formed into balls the size of phoenix tree seeds with rice. Take 30 pills with rice water.
5. For typhoid fever relapse with red urine and stool: 1 liang of Hu Huang Lian and 2 liang of Zhi Zi (remove the skin, mix with half a liang of honey, and fry until slightly charred). Grind the two into powder, mix with pig bile juice, and form into balls the size of phoenix tree seeds. Take with warm ginger water and umbilical cord water after meals.
6. For children’s night sweats and alternating tidal fever: Equal parts of Hu Huang Lian and Chai Hu. Grind into fine powder, mix with refined honey, and form into balls the size of chicken heads. Take 2-3 pills dissolved in a small amount of wine with water. Warm in hot water and drink after meals.
7. For hemoptysis and epistaxis: Equal parts of fresh Rehmannia and Hu Huang Lian. Grind into powder, mix with pig bile juice, and form into balls the size of phoenix tree seeds. Take 50 pills with warm Mao flower soup before bed.
8. For red eyes in infants: Mix Hu Huang Lian powder with tea and apply to the palms and soles.
9. For severe hemorrhoid pain and swelling: Mix Hu Huang Lian powder with goose bile juice and apply.
10. For fistulas with tubular formation: 1 liang of pure Hu Huang Lian powder, 5 qian each of Pteria martensii (boiled in sesame oil), Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides (calcined), and Sophora japonica (slightly fried). Mix with honey and form into balls the size of sesame seeds. Take 1 qian on an empty stomach with clear rice soup. Take twice a day for 40 days for severe cases. For hard flesh protrusions around the fistula, add 20 fried silkworm cocoons to the mixture. This treatment is effective for all fistulas without the need for needle or knife.

Identification and Differentiation of Medicinal Materials

Application Differentiation: Hu Huang Lian (Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora) and Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) are both bitter and cold medicinal herbs with yin-nourishing properties. They share similar effects such as clearing heat, draining fire, drying dampness, and cooling blood. However, according to Ben Cao Zheng Yi (The Correct Meaning of Materia Medica), Hu Huang Lian is characterized by its heavier, darker nature, which allows it to descend quickly, making it particularly effective in clearing and directing damp-heat in the lower burner (lower part of the body). It acts more swiftly than Chuan Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) and is especially effective for conditions such as hot dysentery with prolapse, hemorrhoids with fistula, bloody dysentery, hematuria, blood-stained urine, and syphilitic sores, where damp-fire is deeply entrenched. Hu Huang Lian’s bitter and descending properties make it effective in quickly directing heat downward without lingering in the middle burner, thus not disrupting the harmony of the spleen and stomach. However, Hu Huang Lian’s effectiveness in reducing steaming bone fever and eliminating childhood malnutrition is not as pronounced as Huang Lian, and its capacity to drain heart fire and detoxify is also weaker.

Chemical Identification:

1. After sublimation of the powdered material, needle-like, clustered needle, and rod-shaped crystals can be observed under a microscope.
2. Take 5g of the powdered material and add 50ml of water. Warm it in a water bath at 60°C for 20 minutes, then filter. Add 1ml of the filtrate to 2 drops of ferric chloride ethanol solution to produce a dark green precipitate. In another 1ml of filtrate, add 2 drops of 5% α-naphthol ethanol solution, shake well to produce a yellowish-white turbidity, then gently add 0.5ml of sulfuric acid along the tube wall. A purple ring will appear at the interface of the two liquids, and after shaking, the color deepens. Diluting with water produces a dark purple precipitate.

Modern Research

Pharmacological Effects:

1. Hepatoprotective and Choleretic Effects:
   • Vanilloylcatalpol (Hu Huang Lian glycoside II) isolated from Hu Huang Lian has been shown to have a hepatoprotective effect on mice with liver toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride and a choleretic effect on rats. Apocynirie isolated from the petroleum ether extract of Hu Huang Lian also has a choleretic effect in rabbits. Kutkin, a mixture isolated from the ethanol extract of Hu Huang Lian, when administered orally to rats at doses of 3-50mg/kg, can dose-dependently prevent biochemical changes in the serum and liver caused by three different chemicals, with better efficacy than silymarin. Hu Huang Lian glycoside also exhibits dose-dependent choleretic effects and antagonizes bile duct obstruction caused by ethinylestradiol in anesthetized and awake rats and guinea pigs.
2. Antifungal Activity:
   • The aqueous extract of Hu Huang Lian (1:4 dilution) shows varying degrees of inhibitory effects on dermatophytes such as Trichophyton violaceum, Microsporum concentricum, Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum cookei, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton verrucosum, Trichophyton tonsurans, Epidermophyton floccosum, Epidermophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton Kaufmann-Wolfii, and Nocardia asteroides.
3. Other Effects:
   • Apocynirie isolated from the petroleum ether extract of Hu Huang Lian induces uterine contractions in rats and has an inhibitory effect on the heart of frogs. Two extracts of Hu Huang Lian, obtained by cold (4°C) and hot (reflux) deionized water extraction, were lyophilized and then extracted with methanol. The methanol-soluble parts of these extracts strongly inhibit the complement activity of the classical complement activation pathway, while the methanol-insoluble part of the cold water extract strongly inhibits the complement activity of both the classical and alternative complement activation pathways.

Conservation Status

Protection Level: Hu Huang Lian is listed in China’s List of National Key Protected Wild Plants (Grade II) and is classified as Endangered (EN) in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Bergenia purpurascens (Hook. f. & Thomson) Engl., commonly known as “Rockfoil,” is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Saxifragaceae family and the Bergenia genus. It is also known by other names such as “Yunnan Rockfoil” and “Blue-flowered Bergenia.” The plant can grow up to 52 cm in height. It has a thick rhizome, and all leaves are basal, leathery, with rounded tips, and margins that are wavy-toothed or nearly entire. The leaf base is wedge-shaped, with small glandular pits on both surfaces, and the stipule sheath margin is hairless. The inflorescence is a panicle with glandular hairs on the flower stalk. The sepals are leathery and narrowly ovate, while the petals are purplish-red and broadly ovate. The ovary is ovoid. It blooms and bears fruit from May to October.

Distribution: Bergenia purpurascens is found in southwestern Sichuan, northern Yunnan, and southern and eastern Tibet in China. It also occurs in northern Myanmar, northeastern India, northern Bhutan, and Nepal. It typically grows under forests, in thickets, alpine meadows, and rocky crevices at altitudes ranging from 2700 to 4800 meters.

Medicinal Uses: The entire plant contains compounds such as bergenin, a type of coumarin. The rhizome is used in traditional medicine; it is non-toxic and is used to treat conditions like weakness, dizziness, coughing due to overexertion, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), hematuria (blood in urine), leukorrhea (white discharge), and abscesses. However, it should be used with caution by those with fever due to external conditions and a weak constitution.

Horticultural Value: Bergenia purpurascens has a long flowering period, vibrant flower colors, and evergreen, glossy leaves. It is ideal for planting in rock gardens or under trees, bringing a natural wild charm to the landscape. It can also be potted and placed indoors as an ornamental plant for both foliage and flowers.

Morphological Characteristics

Bergenia purpurascens is a perennial herb that grows to a height of 13-52 cm. It has a thick rhizome covered with scales. All leaves are basal, leathery, obovate, narrowly obovate to nearly elliptical, or occasionally broadly obovate to almost long elliptical. The leaves are 5.5-16 cm long and 3-9 cm wide, with rounded tips and wavy-toothed or nearly entire margins. The base of the leaf is wedge-shaped, and the leaf surfaces are hairless with small glandular pits. The petiole is 2-7 cm long, and the stipule sheath margin is hairless. The flower stalk has sparse glandular hairs.

The inflorescence is a panicle, 3-23 cm long, with glandular hairs on both the flower stalks and branches. The sepals are leathery, narrowly ovate, 6.5-7 mm long, and 2-4 mm wide, with rounded tips. The petals are purplish-red, broadly ovate, 10-16.5 mm long, and 7-7.8 mm wide, with rounded or slightly notched tips and a narrowed base forming a claw of 2-2.5 mm in length, with multiple veins. The stamens are 6-11 mm long, and the ovary is ovoid, 6.7-7.5 mm long, with two styles measuring 5.3-7.5 mm in length. The chromosome number is 2n=34. The flowering and fruiting period is from May to October.

Cultivation Techniques

Fertilization significantly impacts the above-ground growth of Bergenia purpurascens. Plants treated with compost and humus soil exhibit stronger growth, with more tillers per plant, more leaves per plant, and darker leaf color. The number of tillers per plant increases by 1.8-2.3, and the number of leaves by 2-3, compared to untreated plants. The root systems of plants treated with compost and humus soil are more developed, with stronger root activity, potentially showing more pronounced differences over time.

After flowering, it is essential to prune away the spent flower clusters promptly to maintain a tidy plant shape, water moderately, and avoid sun exposure.

Habitat

There are 10 species of the genus Bergenia, scattered across Asia, with 7 species found in China, 3 of which are endemic. Bergenia purpurascens is distributed in southwestern Sichuan, northern Yunnan, and southern and eastern Tibet, growing at altitudes of 2700-4800 meters under forests, in thickets, alpine meadows, and rocky crevices. It also occurs in northern Myanmar, northeastern India, northern Bhutan, and Nepal. The type specimen was collected in India.

Growth Habits

Wild Bergenia purpurascens mainly grows in high-altitude regions of 2700-4200 meters, in soils that are brown or dark brown forest soils with a pH of 6.2-6.7. The primary vegetation in its habitat includes mixed forests of conifers and broad-leaved trees, often interspersed with many rhododendrons. Bergenia purpurascens thrives under the shade of thickets on shady slopes or in rock crevices, with the most vigorous growth occurring on shady slopes with deep humus layers. It prefers cool and light conditions, grows well in partial shade, is drought-tolerant, cold-tolerant, but not heat-tolerant, with an optimal growth temperature of 12-20°C.

Propagation Methods

The germination rate of seeds is highest in spring, though it is only 22.5%. Spring-sown seedlings grow faster and reach the five-leaf stage 10-20 days earlier than those sown in summer and autumn, due to the higher vitality of spring seeds. The seeds are small, making it challenging to select uniformly mature seeds.

Propagation through rhizome cuttings involves treating the rhizome of Bergenia purpurascens and planting it in a seedbed. Rhizome cuttings are easy to root, with an average survival rate of 97.2% when planted in spring, summer, and autumn. The highest survival rate is in summer due to the optimal temperature and humidity conditions, but spring cuttings grow the fastest, reaching the five-leaf stage 10-30 days earlier than those planted in summer and autumn. Growth is best with 85% shade in open ground.

Pest and Disease Control

Bergenia purpurascens is commonly affected by leaf spot disease and aphid infestations. Leaf spot disease can be controlled with a 600-fold dilution of 65% wettable zinc fungicide, while aphids can be controlled with a 1000-fold dilution of 2.5% rotenone emulsion.

Economic Value

Bergenia purpurascens is easy to cultivate, with purple-brown leaves and bright purplish-red flowers, making it an attractive ornamental plant for both foliage and flowers. It is suitable for mass planting by water edges, among rocks, or along the edges of lawns, and is widely used as a ground cover plant.

Medicinal Uses The entire plant contains bergenin and other coumarin compounds. The rhizome is used in traditional medicine; it is non-toxic and used to treat conditions such as weakness, dizziness, cough due to overexertion, hemoptysis, hematuria, leukorrhea, and abscesses. However, it should be used with caution by those with fever due to external conditions and a weak constitution.

Properties: Sweet and astringent in taste, cool in nature. It enters the liver, lung, and spleen meridians.

Functions: Tonifies and strengthens the body, stops coughing and bleeding. It is primarily used for treating weakness and dizziness, coughing up blood due to overexertion, hemoptysis, hematuria, and leukorrhea.

Dosage: For internal use, 6-12 grams are decocted in water. For external use, the fresh plant is mashed and applied, or powdered and mixed with water for application.

Precautions: It should be used with caution in individuals who are weak and have a fever due to external conditions.

Iron Skin Dendrobium (Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo) is a plant in the orchid family, with erect, cylindrical stems that are 9-35 cm long and 2-4 mm thick, unbranched, and with multiple nodes. The leaves are arranged in two rows, papery, lanceolate, with a slight purplish tint on the edges and midrib. The racemes usually emerge from the upper part of old, leafless stems, bearing 2-3 flowers; the bracts are dry, membranous, pale white, and oval, measuring 5-7 mm long. The sepals and petals are yellowish-green, similar in shape, lanceolate, and the lip is white with a green or yellow callus at the base, slightly shorter than the sepals, reflexed in the middle. The column is yellowish-green, about 3 mm long, with a purple spot on each side at the tip; the anther cap is white, long-ovate, triangular, about 2.3 mm long, with a nearly sharp and bifurcated tip. The flowering period is from March to June.

It grows in semi-shady and moist rocky areas at altitudes up to 1600 meters. It is mainly distributed in China’s Anhui, Zhejiang, and Fujian provinces. The stems are used in traditional Chinese medicine as a yin tonic: to nourish the stomach, generate fluids, and clear heat.

Morphological Characteristics

Iron Skin Dendrobium is a herbaceous plant in the orchid family. Its stem is erect, cylindrical, 9-35 cm long, 2-4 mm thick, unbranched, and with multiple nodes. The internodes are 1.3-1.7 cm long, often bearing 3-5 leaves above the middle. The leaves are arranged in two rows, papery, lanceolate, 3-4(-7) cm long, 9-11(-15) mm wide, with a blunt and slightly hooked tip. The base extends downwards into a sheath that wraps around the stem, with edges and midrib often tinged with light purple. The leaf sheaths usually have purple spots, and the upper edge detaches from the stem as they age, leaving a ring-shaped gap.

The racemes usually emerge from the upper part of old, leafless stems, bearing 2-3 flowers. The inflorescence stalk is 5-10 mm long, with 2-3 short sheaths at the base. The inflorescence axis is reflexed and curved, 2-4 cm long. The bracts are dry, membranous, pale white, and oval, 5-7 mm long, with a slightly blunt tip. The pedicel and ovary are 2-2.5 cm long. The sepals and petals are yellowish-green, similar in shape, lanceolate, about 1.8 cm long, and 4-5 mm wide, with a sharp tip and five veins. The lateral sepals are slightly wider at the base, about 1 cm wide. The sepals are conical, about 5 mm long, with a rounded end. The lip is white, with a green or yellow callus at the base, ovate-lanceolate, slightly shorter than the sepals, reflexed in the middle, with a sharp tip, either unlobed or indistinctly 3-lobed, with purplish-red stripes below the middle, and a somewhat wavy margin. The lip disk is densely covered with fine papillae and has a purplish-red spot above the middle. The column is yellowish-green, about 3 mm long, with a purple spot on each side at the tip. The column foot is yellowish-green with purplish-red stripes and sparsely hairy. The anther cap is white, long-ovate, triangular, about 2.3 mm long, with a nearly sharp and bifurcated tip. The flowering period is from March to June.

Propagation Methods

Tissue Culture: Before planting tissue culture seedlings, they should undergo 14-21 days of acclimatization. The seedlings are transferred to an acclimatization room to gradually adapt to the natural environment. Once the leaves turn dark green, they can be planted. Before planting, open the bottle cap and let the seedlings sit in the outdoor air for 2-3 days to adapt to natural temperature and humidity. Then, wash the seedlings, carefully removing them from the culture medium, and rinse off the agar to prevent root rot. Seedlings are sorted by size and quality during the washing process for better cultivation and management, improving survival rates and uniform growth.

Division and Cutting: For division, select 1-2-year-old plants that are tender green, robust, with multiple shoots, well-developed roots, and free from pests and diseases. Remove withered, broken, old branches and overly long roots, then cut the clump into small clusters with 5-7 stems per cluster for planting.

Growth Habits

Iron Skin Dendrobium thrives in cool, moist, and well-ventilated environments. It grows in semi-shady and moist rocky areas at altitudes up to 1600 meters, favoring warm and humid climates and semi-shaded environments but is not frost-tolerant. Wild Iron Skin Dendrobium can withstand temperatures as low as -4.5°C without wilting and has been tested to survive temperatures as low as -9°C.

Geographic Distribution

It is distributed in southwest Anhui (Dabie Mountains), eastern Zhejiang (Yin County, Tiantai, Xianju), western Fujian (Ninghua), northwestern Guangxi (Tian’e), Sichuan, southeastern Yunnan (Shiping, Wenshan, Malipo, Xichou), and southwestern Hunan (Langshan in Xinning County, Shunhuang Mountain in Shaoyang City, Shaodong County).

Current Status

In 1987, the State Council of China listed Iron Skin Dendrobium as a third-grade protected species in the “Regulations on the Protection and Management of Wild Medicinal Resources.” It was included as an endangered plant in the “Red Book of Chinese Plants” in 1992. In 2023, the National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation included Iron Skin Dendrobium among nine substances traditionally used as both food and medicine.

Medicinal Value

• Taste and Properties: Sweet in taste, slightly cold in nature.
• Functions: Nourishes the stomach and generates fluids; nourishes yin and clears heat; moistens the lungs and benefits the kidneys; improves eyesight and strengthens the waist.

Pharmacological Effects

1. Fluid-Generating Effect: Iron Skin Dendrobium promotes fluid production, primarily by stimulating glandular secretion and organ movement.
2. Blood Sugar Reduction: It can reduce blood sugar levels induced by streptozotocin.
3. Immune System Enhancement: Iron Skin Dendrobium particles (TPSH) can enhance the phagocytic function of macrophages in tumor-bearing animals, promote T-lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation, and increase NK cell activity. It significantly improves serum hemolysin levels in tumor-bearing animals, indicating that TPSH enhances both nonspecific immune function and specific cellular and humoral immune functions.
4. Anti-Skin Aging: In December 2022, researchers at the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, discovered a high-content α-mannose-type oligosaccharide (DOMOS) from Iron Skin Dendrobium, which can be used as an exogenous supplement to produce anti-aging effects on the skin both in vitro and in vivo.

Huang Lian (黄连) – Coptis Chinensis Franch.

Botanical Characteristics:

• Plant Description: Coptis chinensis, a perennial herb from the Ranunculaceae family, features a yellow root, often branched with numerous fibrous roots. The leaves are long-petioled, thinly leathery, and ovate or pentagonal, with a heart-shaped base. The leaflets are deeply divided, with the middle segment being diamond-shaped or ovate and finely serrate with pointed teeth. The involucral bracts are narrow and deeply divided, while the sepals are yellow-green and lanceolate. The petals are line-shaped or lanceolate, and the fruit is elongated-oval.
• Flowers and Fruits: The flowers bloom from February to March and fruit from April to July. The flower stalks (peduncles) range from 12 to 25 cm in height, and the inflorescences are cymes with 3-8 flowers. The involucral bracts are lanceolate and deeply divided, while the sepals are yellow-green, elliptical, and 9-12.5 mm long. The petals are linear or lanceolate, with a central nectar groove. The plant has about 20 stamens and 8-12 carpels. The achenes are 6-8 mm long, with 7-8 seeds that are brown, elongated-oval, approximately 2 mm long and 0.8 mm wide.

Growth Environment:

• Adaptation: Huang Lian prefers cool, moist, and shaded environments, thriving in high-altitude areas with low temperatures and high humidity. It cannot tolerate strong sunlight and prefers shaded conditions. The root system is shallow, and it grows best in loose, fertile, and humus-rich surface soil. It is commonly found in high mountain forests.

Distribution:

• Native Range: Huang Lian is native to China, particularly in Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, and southern Shaanxi.

Propagation Methods:

• Seed Propagation: Seeds are generally sown in the spring or autumn. In moist conditions, sowing is done around the spring equinox; in arid conditions, sowing should occur before the rainy season. Seeds should be soaked in 30°C water for 24 hours and then dried before sowing. If soil is dry and irrigation is not feasible, seeds should not be soaked to avoid loss of germination ability. In early September, seeds can be sown without pre-soaking. Furrows should be made 50 cm apart, seeds sown, covered with 3-5 cm of soil, and lightly tamped down. The seeding rate is 0.7-1 kg per mu, and for point sowing, seeds are planted 15 cm apart with 3-5 seeds per hole.
• Division: Huang Lian can also be propagated by dividing the rootstock.

Medicinal Value:

• Traditional Uses: Huang Lian root is a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine. It is known for its bitter taste and cold nature, entering the Heart, Pericardium, Spleen, and Stomach meridians. It is used to clear heart heat, reduce fire, alleviate restlessness, and is beneficial for conditions such as stomach discomfort, diarrhea, and irritability.
• Precautions: Huang Lian should be used with caution in cases of stomach deficiency, nausea, or diarrhea, and should not be used excessively. It is considered non-toxic but is extremely bitter and should be used under medical guidance.
• Historical Texts: In “Bencao Gangmu” (Compendium of Materia Medica), Huang Lian is noted for its medicinal properties and its use in treating various conditions. The “Pearl Bag” text describes its six primary uses: clearing heart fire, eliminating damp-heat from the middle burner, treating various types of sores, relieving wind-damp conditions, treating acute conjunctivitis, and stopping bleeding in the abdominal region.

Huang Lian is a valuable and highly regarded medicinal herb, listed as a national secondary key protected medicinal material in 2021.

Distribution and Growth Habits of Huang Lian (黄连)

Distribution Range:

• Geographic Distribution: Huang Lian is found in several provinces in China, including Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, and southern Shaanxi. It grows in mountainous regions or shady valleys at altitudes ranging from 500 to 2000 meters. The type specimen was collected from Chongqing Chengkou.

Growth Habits:

• Preferred Environment: Huang Lian thrives in cool, moist, and shaded environments, preferring temperatures between 1200 and 1800 meters above sea level with high humidity. It is sensitive to high temperatures and drought conditions and cannot tolerate strong sunlight, thus requiring shade.
• Soil Requirements: The plant has a shallow root system that grows in the top 5-10 cm of soil. It prefers loose, fertile, and humus-rich soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5, indicating a preference for slightly acidic soils. It is commonly found in the cold, wet, and shaded forests of high mountains.

Medicinal Value and Uses

Medicinal Properties:

• Traditional Uses: Huang Lian is known for its ability to clear heat, dry dampness, purge fire, and detoxify. It is used for conditions such as:
  • Damp-Heat Disorders: To treat fullness and discomfort due to damp-heat, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, high fever, and agitation.
  • Heart Fire and Restlessness: To relieve symptoms related to excessive heart fire and restlessness.
  • Blood Heat: To address symptoms such as bleeding and redness in the eyes, toothache, and diabetes.
  • Skin and External Applications: For treating eczema, moist sores, and ear infections.
• Specific Preparations:
  • Alcoholic Huang Lian: Clears heat from the upper body, used for eye redness and mouth sores.
  • Ginger Huang Lian: Clears the stomach and stops vomiting, useful for conditions where cold and heat are mixed and damp-heat obstructs the stomach.
  • Evodia Huang Lian: Soothes the liver and stomach, used for liver-stomach disharmony and vomiting with sour taste.

Pharmacological Actions:

• Antibacterial Effects: Effective against a range of bacteria.
• Antifungal Effects: Demonstrates activity against fungi.
• Antiviral Effects: Provides protection against certain viruses.
• Anti-Amoebic Effects: Useful in combating amoebic infections.
• Anti-Inflammatory and Antidiarrheal Effects: Reduces inflammation and alleviates diarrhea.
• Cardiovascular Effects: Influences cardiovascular health.
• Antipyretic Effects: Helps reduce fever.
• Hypoglycemic Effects: Lowers blood sugar levels.
• Hypolipidemic Effects: Reduces blood lipid levels.
• Antioxidant Effects: Provides protection against oxidative stress.
• Anti-Ulcer Effects: Aids in ulcer treatment.

Precautions and Toxicity:

• Contraindications: Huang Lian should be used cautiously in individuals with stomach deficiency, diarrhea, and those with cold and weak spleen-stomach conditions.
• Toxicity Information: Berberine, the primary alkaloid in Huang Lian, has a high safety margin. However, large doses or prolonged use may cause adverse effects such as gastrointestinal discomfort and heart toxicity. In animals, berberine’s lethal dose is relatively high, but caution is advised. Allergic reactions and side effects like itching, urticaria, and hypotension have been reported with berberine injections.

Historical Use and Chemical Composition

Historical Background:

• Historical Records: Huang Lian is first recorded in “Shennong Ben Cao Jing” as a top-grade herb. Historical texts, such as “Bencao Gangmu,” describe its use and identify Sichuan as a major producing region. Other historical records mention its use in areas east of the Yangtze River and in Hunan and Anhui provinces.

Chemical Components:

• Key Alkaloids: The rhizome of Huang Lian contains several important alkaloids, including:
  • Berberine: 5.56%–7.25%
  • Coptisine
  • Epiberberine
  • Berberrubine
  • Palmatine
  • Columbamine
  • Jatrorrhizine
  • Worenine
  • Magnoflorine
  • Ferulic Acid
  • Obakunone
  • Obakulactone

These components contribute to Huang Lian’s effectiveness in treating various conditions and its pharmacological actions.

Drug Identification

Physical Identification

The rhizome is often clustered with branching, curving, and massive, resembling an inverted chicken claw, commonly referred to as “chicken claw Coptis.” The single branches are cylindrical, 3–6 cm long, and 2–8 mm in diameter. The surface is gray-yellow or yellow-brown, with red-brown exposed areas where the outer skin has peeled off, rough, with irregular nodular elevations, root hairs, and root hair remnants. Some segments have smooth surfaces like stems, known as “bridges.” The upper part often retains brownish scales, and the top often has residual stems or leaf stalks. It is hard, with an irregular break surface; the skin is orange-red or dark brown, the wood is bright yellow or orange-yellow, and the pith is red-brown, sometimes hollow. It has a faint odor and is extremely bitter. [2]

Microscopic Identification

Cross-section of Rhizome:

• Scale leaf tissue is often shed. The cork layer consists of rows of cork cells. The cortex is broad, with visible root and leaf vascular bundles; stone cells are yellow, scattered singly or in groups. The paper tube bundles are external and tough, arranged in intermittent ring-like patterns with indistinct cambium between the bundles. The outer part of the phloem contains fiber bundles, varying in size from several to dozens or even hundreds of fibers; some also contain yellow stone cells. The wood is yellow and fully lignified; wood fibers are well-developed. The pith sometimes contains a few scattered or clustered stone cells. Parenchyma cells contain starch grains. [2]

Powder Characteristics

The powder is yellow-brown or yellow.

1. Stone cells are bright yellow, round, square, polygonal, or slightly elongated, 25–64 μm in diameter, up to 102 μm in length, with walls 9–28 μm thick, and distinct or layered pores.
2. Wood fibers are numerous, yellow, and elongated; diameter 10–13 μm, with slightly thick walls and sparse pores.
3. Phloem fibers are bright yellow, spindle-shaped or long fusiform, 136–185 μm long, 25–40 μm in diameter, with thicker walls and sparse pores.
4. Vessels are primarily perforated and spiral, with diameters of 8–20 μm.
5. Starch grains are mostly single, oval, kidney-shaped, spherical, or elliptical, 1–10 μm in diameter; compound grains are few, consisting of 2–4 components. Scale leaf epidermal cells are green-yellow or yellow-brown, slightly rectangular, with wavy curved walls. [2]

Physicochemical Identification

The broken surface of the substance shows golden-yellow fluorescence under ultraviolet light, with the wood part being particularly notable. [2]

Take about 1 g of the powder, add 10 ml of ethanol, heat to boiling, cool, filter, take 5 drops of the filtrate, add 1 ml of dilute hydrochloric acid and a small amount of bleaching powder, which turns cherry red; another 5 drops of the filtrate, add 2–3 drops of 5% gallnut acid ethanol solution, evaporate, and while hot, add a few drops of sulfuric acid, which turns dark green. (Check for Berberine) [2]

Take the powder or slices, add 1 drop of dilute hydrochloric acid or 30% nitric acid, after a moment, observe under the microscope, yellow needle-like crystal clusters will appear; heating causes the crystals to turn red and disappear. (Check for Berberine)

Thin-Layer Chromatography

Take about 1 g of the powder, add 10 ml of methanol, heat to boiling, cool, and filter. The filtrate is used as the sample solution. For comparison, use hydrochloric berberine, hydrochloric phellodendrine, hydrochloric coptidine, and hydrochloric magnolia alkaloid as reference substances, preparing a mixture containing 2 mg per ml in methanol. Apply 1–2 μl of the sample solution and 5 μl of the reference solution on a silica gel TLC plate. Develop using chloroform-methanol-ammonia (15:4:1), remove, and air dry. The chromatogram shows berberine and phellodendrine as yellow under natural light, coptidine as red-brown in the presence of ammonia, and magnolia alkaloid as colorless. Under ultraviolet light (254 nm), berberine and phellodendrine show bright yellow-green, magnolia alkaloid shows bright blue-purple, and coptidine shows dark spots. [2]

Product Specifications

• First-grade Coptis: Often clustered, with robust and solid branches, containing bridges, and not exceeding 2 cm in length. Free from fragments less than 1.5 cm, residual stems, scorched parts, impurities, and mold.
• Second-grade Coptis: Strips are smaller and thinner than first-grade, with bridges. Contains fragments, debris, and scorched parts. Other characteristics are similar to first-grade. [2]

Conservation Status

• Conservation Level: Listed in China’s “National Secondary Protected Plants List.”

Aucklandia Costus (云木香) Identification and Information

Botanical Characteristics:

• Plant Description: Aucklandia costus, a perennial herbaceous plant from the Asteraceae family, can reach up to 2 meters in height. The main root is thick and robust. The stem is upright with ridges, and the basal leaves have long winged petioles, which are shallowly lobed with round teeth. The leaves are heart-shaped or triangular with jagged edges. The upper leaves are gradually smaller, triangular or ovate, with or without short winged petioles.
• Inflorescence: The capitulum is solitary at the end of the stem or branches, or forms dense umbels at the stem ends. The involucre is hemispherical, black, and initially covered with web-like hairs, later becoming hairless. The involucral bracts are arranged in seven layers: the outer layer is long triangular, with a short, sharp, cartilage-like tip; the middle layer is lanceolate or elliptical, with sharp tips; and the inner layer is linear-elliptical, with short, sharp, cartilage-like tips. The bracts are all erect.
• Flowers and Fruits: The small flowers are dark purple, about 1.5 cm long. The achene is light brown, three-ribbed, 8 mm long, with blackish spots and a crown with small teeth. The pappus is a single layer, light brown, feathery, and 1.3 cm long. Flowering and fruiting occur in July.

Growth Environment:

• Adaptation: Aucklandia costus thrives in fertile soils with a strong base. It prefers cool, moist climates and is a deep-rooted plant requiring thick soil layers (over 0.5 meters) with a pH of 6.5-7. It needs low groundwater levels, well-drained, fertile, and loose sandy loam or loam. It is not suitable for sandy soils, gravel soils, clay soils, or areas with thin soil layers.
• Climate: It grows well at altitudes of 2500-3200 meters, with an active temperature range of 2000-3200°C, extreme maximum temperatures below 28°C, and extreme minimum temperatures above -14°C. It requires a frost-free period of 120-200 days, annual precipitation of 800-1200 mm, and air humidity of 68%-75%. The optimal temperature range for germination is 12-20°C. Germination is inhibited at temperatures below 8°C or above 30°C. Soil moisture should be maintained between 22%-35%. If soil moisture falls below 15%, the plants may wilt.

Distribution:

• Origin: Kashmir. Cultivated in China’s Sichuan (Emei Mountain), Yunnan (Weixi, Kunming), Guangxi, and Guizhou (Guiyang, Dushan).

Propagation Methods:

• Seed Sowing: Sow seeds in spring or autumn. In moist soil areas, sow around the spring equinox; in arid areas, sow before the rainy season. Clean seeds should be soaked in 30°C water for 24 hours, then air-dried before sowing. If the soil is dry and irrigation is not possible, do not treat the seeds to avoid loss of germination capability. In early September, for autumn sowing without pre-soaking, make furrows 50 cm apart, sow seeds, cover with 3-5 cm of soil, and lightly tamp down. The seeding rate is 0.7-1 kg per mu; for point sowing, plant seeds 15 cm apart with 3-5 seeds per hole, cover with 3-5 cm of soil, and lightly tamp down. The seeding rate for point sowing is 0.5-1 kg per mu. In moist soil, cover with a thinner layer of soil. Young Aucklandia costus plants are sensitive to strong light, so it is recommended to sow in spring alongside tall crops like corn to provide shade and make full use of the land.

Main Value:

• Medicinal Use: The dried root of Aucklandia costus is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is warm in nature, with a spicy and bitter taste, and is used for the spleen, stomach, large intestine, sanjiao, and gallbladder meridians. It helps strengthen the stomach, reduce bloating, regulate qi, relieve depression, alleviate pain, and stabilize the fetus. It is used for conditions such as abdominal distension and pain, diarrhea, indigestion, and lack of appetite. It is a common Chinese medicine and a major ingredient in many Chinese patent medicines, as listed in various editions of the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China.