The efficacy and function of Amaryllis

Only when we understand the main ingredients of any medicinal material can we better exert its efficacy and function. Here I recommend a very popular Chinese medicinal material, Amaryllis.

【English name】 Longitudinally-striped Hippeastrum

【Alias】 Amaryllis

[Source] Medicinal material source: The bulb of Amaryllis, a plant of the Amaryllis family.

[Original morphology] Amaryllis is a perennial herb. The bulb is large, spherical, 5-7.5cm in diameter. There are 6-8 leaves, which usually emerge after flowering. They are ribbon-shaped, bright green, 30-40cm long and 2-6cm wide. The flower stem is hollow, 50-70cm high; the inflorescence is umbellate, often with 3-6 flowers, large in shape, 12-18cm long; there are 2 spathe-like bracts, lanceolate, 5-7.5cm long; the pedicel is nearly equal in length to the bracts; the perianth is funnel-shaped, red, with white stripes in the center and edges; the perianth tube is about 3cm long, with small, inconspicuous scales at the throat, 6 perianth lobes, obovate to oblong, 9-15cm long, 2.5-4cm wide, with acute apex; 6 stamens, inserted at the throat of the perianth tube, shorter than the perianth lobes, filaments are filiform, anthers are linear or linear-oblong, T-shaped; the ovary is inferior, 3-chambered, the style is equal to or slightly longer than the perianth, and the stigma is deeply 3-lobed. The capsule is spherical and split into 3 lobes; the seeds are flat. Flowering period: spring and summer.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Introduced for cultivation in my country, commonly seen in gardens across the north and south.

[Cultivation] Biological characteristics: It prefers warm and semi-shady environment during the growing period, and neutral or slightly alkaline soil. It is suitable for planting in sandy soil mixed with leaf mold and loam with more fiber. The temperature requirement from February to September is 18-23℃. During the winter dormancy period, it requires dry and cool weather with a temperature of 10-12℃. Excessive watering in winter will cause the temperature to be too high, causing the stems and leaves to grow too long, disrupting dormancy and directly affecting normal flowering the following year. Sufficient water should be supplied during the spring flowering period and the summer growing period, and watering should be reduced in autumn. The cultivation technology uses sowing and division to propagate. Seed propagation: Seeds should be sown immediately after collection in June and July. The seedbed should be kept in semi-shade, with a temperature of 18-22℃, and will germinate in about 20 days. Pay attention to fertilizer and water management during the seedling stage, and carry out the first transplant when there are 3-4 true leaves. It takes 3-4 years from sowing to flowering. Propagation by division: It is carried out in February and March. Before transplanting, remove the old roots and old soil, separate the small bulbs growing on the sides of the mother plant, and plant them with a row spacing of 25cm×25cm. The depth of the soil should be such that the top of the bulb is slightly exposed above the soil surface. Field Management: Water less during the initial planting, and increase the watering frequency when flower stems and leaves appear. At the same time, apply nitrogen liquid fertilizer once every 10 days, and apply bone meal once before flower buds form, which has a significant effect. Plant in March, bloom in April-May, cut off the flower stems in time after flowering to avoid consuming nutrients in the bulb. Wait for leaves to grow, apply decomposed cake fertilizer water once every half month to promote the growth of the bulb and produce new bulbs.

[Chemical composition] The bulb contains bioalkalis: lycorine, hippeastrine, tazettine, vittatine, haemanthamine, hippacine, hippadine, hippafine, hippagine (pancracine), buphanisine and other bioalkalis. It also contains fatty acids: capric acid, lauric acid, isolauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, isopalmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid; sugars: arabinose, galactose, glucose, galacturonic acid; flavanoid component: 4-hydroxy-7-methoxy-flavan. The aerial part contains kaempferol-3-O-xyloside.

【Nature and flavor】 Pungent; warm; slightly toxic

【Functions and indications】Detoxification and swelling reduction. Mainly used for carbuncle, sore and swelling

【Usage and Dosage】For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": It has the functions of dispersing blood stasis, reducing swelling and detoxifying.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the detailed introduction to the effects of Amaryllis in this article, we can learn about the major effects of Amaryllis. These effects are indeed a good way to regulate the body for people with poor physical constitution and low resistance. Everyone can try it.