The efficacy and function of Southwestern Crinum

There are so many medicinal herbs in the world, and it is inevitable that there are some that we are not familiar with. But as long as we have the spirit of learning throughout our lives, I believe we can slowly learn more medical herbs. So do you know about the medicinal herb Crinum juncea?

【English name】 Broadleaf Crinum， bulb or leaf of Broadleaf Crinum

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leaves of Crinum juncea of ​​the Amaryllis family.

[Original form] Southwestern Crinum is a perennial and sturdy herb. Rhizome bulbous. The leaves are ribbon-shaped, about 70 cm long or longer, and 3.5-6 cm wide or wider. Umbel with several to more than 10 flowers; 2 spathe-like bracts, lanceolate, about 9cm long; many bracts, narrow and linear; pedicel very short; perianth nearly funnel-shaped, saucer-shaped, white with a blush; perianth tube about 9cm long, often slightly curved; 6 perianth lobes; lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, about 7.5cm long, about 1.5cm wide, with short acuminate tip; 6 stamens, filaments shorter than perianth lobes, anther linear, 1.2-1.8cm long. Capsule. Flowering period is from June to August.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: It often grows in riverbeds, sandy land, village ditches or waterside in mountains, and is also widely cultivated artificially.

[Chemical composition] The leaves contain lycorine, undulatine and cherylline. The bulbs and leaves contain amaryllis and hippeastrine. The bulb contains 1-O-acetyllycorine, 3-O-acetylhamayne, chelidonine, powelline, hamayne, crinine and crinamine. The bulbs when flowering contain pratorimine, pratorinine, pratosine, lycorine, ambelline, and hippadine. Before germination, the bulbs contained immunologically active 11-O-acetylambelline, 11-O-acetyl-1β, 2β-epoxyambelline, and 1β, 2β-epoxyambelline. The sap of the pedicel contains 2-epilycorine, 2-epipancrassidine, and latisoline. It also contains bioalkaloids with anti-cancer effects: crinafoline and crinafolidine. It also contains latipine from the southwestern gentian. The rhizome contains water-soluble glucan A and phosphatidyllycorine, which have mast cell stabilizing effects.

【Nature and flavor】 Pungent; bitter; cool; slightly toxic

【Functions and indications】Promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis; dredge meridians and relieve pain; clear away heat and detoxify. Mainly used for traumatic injuries, fractures, joint pain, toothache, malignant sores, hemorrhoids, herpes zoster, and psoriasis

【Usage and Dosage】 For external use: take appropriate amount, mash and apply; or squeeze the juice and apply; or stir-fry and apply hot compress. For internal use: decoction, 3-9g.

【Note】 Use with caution when taking internally.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": It has the functions of promoting blood circulation, dispersing blood stasis, reducing swelling and relieving pain. The whole plant is poisonous, with the bulb being the most toxic, so use caution when taking it internally.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

In fact, you will only know its benefits after practicing it. Just like the traditional Chinese medicine Crinum juncea introduced above, it turns out that Crinum juncea can also treat some other diseases. Therefore, eating it in moderation has many benefits.