The efficacy and function of Herba Lycoris radiatae

As people's living standards improve, they pay more attention to health preservation. Many people know that the Chinese medicine Herba Lycopodii is good for the body and can treat many diseases. Let’s learn about it today.

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Melastoma scabra.

[Original form] Small shrub. The lower part is often procumbent, with creeping stems and roots at each node. The ascending part is about 20 cm high, cylindrical, densely covered with small lenticels, branched or unbranched, and the branchlets are covered with fine soft hairs and sparse glandular hairs, slightly quadrangular. In each pair of leaves on the same node, one is larger and opposite; petiole 6-17mm long, pubescent; leaf blade hard papery or slightly thick, broadly ovate to broadly elliptic, sometimes the lower leaf is lanceolate-ovate, apex acute or obtuse, base obtuse or rounded, 5-11cm long, 4-8cm wide, entire or with inconspicuous fine shallow serrations, tooth apex with prickles, 5-base veins, leaf surface pubescent and sparse prickles when young, later pubescent, basal vein slightly concave, lateral veins slightly raised or inconspicuous, dorsal basal vein raised, sparse prickles, lateral veins slightly raised, occasionally with 1-2 prickles. The inflorescence is corymbose or compact umbel, terminal or 3-5 inflorescences born on the upper part of the plant, 3.5-6cm long, densely pubescent; bracts fall off early, pedicels about 6mm long, pubescent; calyx campanulate-funnel-shaped, tube about 3mm long, covered with sparse glandular hairs, quadrangular, lobes short and broad triangular, apex pointed, less than 1mm long; petals red, oblong to elliptic-oblong, apex short and acute, slightly oblique, about 6mm long, about 4.5mm wide; stamens are nearly equal in length, without tubercles at the base of anthers, connectives extend downwards in short spurs, the longer ones are about 12.5mm long, the anthers are about 6mm long, the shorter ones are about 10.5mm long, the anthers are about 5mm long; ovary is nearly spherical, apex truncate, discoid, 4-lobed. The capsule is cup-shaped, truncate at the tip, and obtusely quadrangular; the persistent calyx is the same shape as the fruit, with the crown slightly exposed at the tip, covered with sparse spines, 6mm long and 4.5mm in diameter. The flowering period is around June, and the fruiting period is from August to November.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: in valleys at an altitude of 700-900m, under forests on hillsides, or on shady and damp roadsides, beside water, and between rock crevices.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; Cool

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and promotes diuresis. Mainly used for damp-heat jaundice; edema and swelling

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 15-30g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the introduction in this article, we can learn some relevant knowledge about the herb. Whether from the perspective of food health or traditional Chinese medicine, the role of Scutellaria baicalensis cannot be underestimated.