The difference between Lobelia and Semi-branched Lotus

Both Lobelia and Scutellaria barbata are very common Chinese medicinal materials. Since the two are only one character apart, they are easily confused in life. People who don’t know the two will treat Lobelia and Scutellaria barbata as the same thing. In fact, there is a big difference between Lobelia and Scutellaria barbata. The following introduces the difference between Lobelia and Scutellaria barbata in detail. I hope everyone will remember the difference between Lobelia and Scutellaria barbata so as not to confuse the two.

The difference between Lobelia and Scutellaria

1. Lobelia: It has diuretic and detumescent functions. It is often used for abdominal edema and facial and foot edema. It also has the function of clearing away heat and detoxifying, and can be used to treat carbuncles, swellings and snake and insect bites. There is a saying among the people that "If you have half-flowered lotus at home, you can sleep with a snake." Consumer products have good detoxification effects on snake bites. It can also be used to treat gastric cancer, rectal cancer, etc.

2. Scutellaria barbata: It has the function of clearing away heat and detoxifying. It is used for severe heat poison, snake bites, sores, swelling and pain, back pain and sore throat, etc. It is also used for cancer. It also has the function of removing blood stasis and promoting diuresis. It is used to treat injuries from falls, dysentery, hematuria, urinary difficulties caused by damp heat, cirrhosis of the liver and ascites.

The specific difference between half lotus and half lotus

1. Lobelia

[Source] Dried or fresh whole herb of Lobelia chinensis of the Campanulaceae family.

[Nature and flavor and meridians] Sweet, light, cold. It enters the heart, small intestine and lung meridians.

[Performance Characteristics] This product is sweet, mild and has the effect of penetrating and diuresis, clearing away cold, and mainly enters the heart and small intestine meridians, and also enters the lung meridian. It is good at clearing away snake venom and heat toxins, and is an essential medicine for treating snake bites and heat-toxic sores and carbuncles. It can also promote diuresis and reduce swelling, and can be used to treat abdominal edema.

【Effects】Clears away heat, detoxifies, promotes diuresis and reduces swelling.

【Main indications】

(1) Snake bites, bee and scorpion stings.

(2) Abdominal edema, difficulty urinating, jaundice and oliguria.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 10-20g of dry product, 30-60g of fresh product. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash fresh product for application.

[Precautions for use] This product is sweet, cold and has a clearing effect, so people with edema and deficiency should take it with caution.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 3-6g; or grind into powder, or make into pills or powder.

2. Scutellaria barbata

[Source] The dried or fresh whole herb of Scutellaria barbata of the Lamiaceae family.

[Nature and flavor and meridians] Pungent, bitter, and cold. It enters the lung, liver and kidney meridians.

[Performance characteristics] This product is pungent and dispersing, bitter and cold, and clears and drains. It enters the lungs, liver, etc. Kidney meridian. It can clear away heat, poison and snake venom, disperse blood stasis, cool blood and stop bleeding, clear away heat, promote diuresis and relieve stranguria and swelling. It is especially good at treating snake bites, sores and cancer.

[Effects] Clears away heat and detoxifies, disperses blood stasis and stops bleeding, promotes diuresis and reduces swelling.

【Main indications】

(1) Sores, carbuncles, swellings, snake bites, and cancer.

(2) Traumatic injuries, vomiting blood, and epistaxis.

(3) Abdominal edema, bloody and painful stranguria.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 15-30g of dry product, 30-60g of fresh product. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

[Precautions for use] This product is cold in nature and can disperse blood stasis, so pregnant women and people with weak spleen and stomach should take it with caution.

In general, both Lobelia Sinensis and Scutellaria barbata have the functions of clearing away heat and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and promoting diuresis, and are often used together. However, Lobelia Scutellariae is more effective in diuresis and detumescence, and is often used to treat ascites caused by liver cirrhosis due to late-stage schistosomiasis. Lobelia Scutellariae is more effective in clearing away heat and detoxifying, and is often used for those with severe heat toxicity. It also has the function of removing blood stasis. It is often used to treat blood stasis, traumatic injuries, etc.