The efficacy and function of Lobelia serrata

In daily life, people are not only very familiar with various foods, but also come into contact with a lot of medicines in daily life. Among them, Lobelia stenotica is a relatively common Chinese medicinal material. Given that there are still many people who don’t know much about Lobelia stenotica, let’s take a detailed look at it below.

[Other names] Large-sized lobelia, wild tobacco, large-sized lobelia, lobelia

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Lobelia lineata of the Campanulaceae family.

[Original form] Lobelia lineata is a perennial herb, 80-150cm tall. The taproot is thick and the lateral roots are fibrous. Stem one color, glabrous. Leaves are alternate and spirally arranged; with short petioles or nearly sessile, and the leaf blades are mostly sickle-ovate to sickle-lanceolate, 6-15cm long, 1.5-4cm wide, with a long tail-like acuminate tip, a broad cuneate base, smooth and glabrous, and eyelash-like teeth on the edges. The raceme grows at the top of the main stem and branches, 15-40cm long, with sparse flowers facing all directions; the bracts of the lower flowers are the same shape as the leaves, narrowing to strips upwards, longer than the flowers, with eyelash-like teeth; the pedicels are flattened dorsoventrally, 3-5mm long; there are 2 bracteoles, growing in the middle; the calyx tube is semi-elliptic, 3-4mm long, glabrous, with narrow strips, 13-17mm long, the rim is nearly two-lipped, the upper lip lobes are linear-lanceolate, ascending, and the lower lip lobes are lanceolate-elliptic, spreading outward; the base of the stamens is densely pubescent, and they are connected into a tube above the base. Capsule nearly shaped, uplifted, 5-6mm in diameter, glabrous. The seeds are oblong, slightly flattened, about 0.6mm long, with honeycomb patterns on the surface. Flowering and fruiting period is August to October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in valleys below 1000m above sea level, beside roads, beside ditches or in wet areas in forests.

【Properties and flavors】 Spicy; neutral; slightly toxic

【Entry into Meridians】 Enters the lung and kidney meridians

【Functions and indications】Promotes lung function and resolves phlegm; clears away heat and detoxifies; promotes diuresis and reduces swelling. It is used for cough with a lot of sputum, edema, eczema, carbuncle, furuncle, snake bite, bee sting.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 6-9g. For external use: take appropriate amount of fresh product, mash it into a dressing and apply it; or decoct it in water and wash the affected area.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the detailed introduction of Lobelia narrow-calyx, I believe everyone has a certain understanding and can better improve our common sense of life.