The efficacy and function of Shandan

Shandan is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine. There are records of Shandan in ancient Chinese medical books. Shandan can treat many diseases and its effects are very comprehensive. We should make good use of it.

[Alias] Red lily, Lianzhu (Rihuazi Materia Medica), Sichuan Qiangqu (Tongzhi), red flower vegetable (Compendium of Materia Medica), red flower lily (Sui Xi Ju Diet), mountain lily (Shandong Chinese Herbal Medicine Handbook).

[Source] It is the bulb of the lily family plant Rhododendron chinense . Dig up the bulbs between August and September, remove the stems and leaves, wash off the soil, and dry the remaining scales and leaves in the sun, or scoop them out with boiling water and dry them in the sun.

[Original form] Perennial herb, 40 to 60 cm tall. The bulb is ovoid, white, about 2 cm long, with a few scales, which are intercalated ovate or broadly elliptic-lanceolate, without joints, and membranous at the apex. The stem is thin, erect and green. Leaves are sessile; linear or linear-lanceolate, narrower above the middle, 2-7 cm long, 3-6 mm wide, and pointed at the tip. The flowers are erect, solitary or divided into 3 or 4 branches at the top of the stem, each with one flower. The flowers are 5 to 7.5 cm in diameter and bright red; the perianth has 6 lanceolate petals, not recurved, with black-purple spots on the inner side of the base; the stamens are 6, shorter than the perianth, the anthers are large, slender and round; the pistil is 1, the ovary is superior, 3-chambered, and without style. The capsule is oblong-oval, about 2 cm long, with blunt edges and a flat top. The seeds are nearly round and flat. Flowering period is from June to July. The fruiting period is from August to September.

[Habitat distribution] Growing on hillsides, hilly grasslands or bushes. Distributed in Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Guizhou and other places.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet, bitter, cool.

【Functions and indications】Relieves restlessness and heat, moistens the lungs, relieves cough and calms the mind. Treats consumptive cough, vomiting blood, palpitations, insomnia, and edema.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 3 to 6 qian.

[Additional prescription] ① Treat cough and vomiting blood: 6 qian of mountain lily, 6 qian of white hyacinth, and 4 qian of Fritillaria. Grind into fine powder, take 2 qian each time, three times a day. (Shandong Chinese Herbal Medicine Handbook)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

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