Pinyin: Jinbianlongshelan
Aliases
Jinbianlian, Jinbianjiaboluo, Longsheilan.
Source
1. For pneumonia: Renshen 6 g, decoct in water and take orally.Agave americanaL.var.marginataTrel., dried leaf.
Botanical Description
Perennial evergreen herb. Stem short, slightly woody. Leaves clustered, arranged in a rosette; leaf blade fleshy, oblong-elliptic, smaller ones 15-25 cm long and 5-7 cm wide, larger ones up to 1 m long and 20 cm wide, thick, green, with yellowish-white bands on the margin and purplish-brown spinose-serrate teeth. Scape stout, 5-6 m tall, much branched; panicle; flowers yellowish-green; perianth segments 6; stamens 6, inserted on the perianth tube, about twice as long as the perianth segments, anthers versatile; ovary 3-loculed, style linear, stigma capitate, 3-lobed. Capsule oblong, loculicidal. Seeds numerous. Flowering in summer.
Habitat and Distribution
It is cultivated in greenhouses and gardens in the Yangtze River basin and regions to the south of China.
Harvesting and Processing
Can be harvested year-round, used fresh or scalded and then dried in the sun.
Medicinal Properties
The leaves are wrinkled and folded; when flattened and complete, they are sword-shaped or long-strap-shaped, with the widest part in the middle, measuring 20-40 cm long and 1.5-5 cm wide. From the base to the apex, both edges are golden yellow, about 1/3 of the leaf width, with a dark green center that has dense fine longitudinal striations and broken marks of varying sizes; some broken marks show yellow-brown gelatinous material. The apex has fine sharp spines, and both edges show shallow wave-like undulations with very fine hard spines at the protrusions. The texture is tough and difficult to break. Odor: faintly offensive. Taste: sour and astringent.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains hecogenin, manogenin, furostanol glycosides, tigogenin, and gitogenin.
Properties and Channel Entry
Bitter, acrid, and cool in nature.
Functions and Indications
Moistens the Lungs, stops cough, cools Blood, and stops bleeding
Dosage and Administration
Internal use: decoction, 10-15 g, fresh product 30-60 g; or juice extraction. External use: appropriate amount, pound and apply.
Prescriptions
1. For dry cough due to Lung dryness: Agave americana var. variegata 30 g, Radix Adenophorae Strictae, Pear peel, Semen Armeniacae Amarum, Fructus Trichosanthis, Radix Ophiopogonis, and Folium Mori 9 g each, Radix Glycyrrhizae 3 g. Decoct in water for oral administration. (Wanxian Chinese Herbal Medicine) 2. For cough with hemoptysis due to Lung Heat: Agave americana var. variegata 15 g, Bletilla striata 15 g. Decoct in water for oral administration. Or fresh Agave americana var. variegata 120 g, stewed with meat for oral administration. (Sichuan Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 1982) 3. For hemoptysis due to pulmonary tuberculosis: Agave americana var. variegata 60 g, Artemisia annua and Bletilla striata 9 g each. Decoct in water for oral administration. (Wanxian Chinese Herbal Medicine) 4. For chronic asthma and cough due to Qi deficiency: Agave americana var. variegata 60 g, Radix Adenophorae Strictae, Bulbus Lilii, Liriope spicata, and Reineckia carnea 15 g each. Stewed with meat for oral administration. (Wanxian Chinese Herbal Medicine) 5. For lower back pain due to Kidney deficiency: Agave americana var. variegata 30 g, Polygonatum sibiricum, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, Eclipta prostrata 12 g each, Dipsacus asper 15 g. Decoct in water for oral administration. (Wanxian Chinese Herbal Medicine) 6. For multiple abscesses, carbuncles, and furuncles: Fresh leaves of Agave americana var. variegata 15-30 g. Pound to extract juice for oral administration, and apply the residue to the affected area. (Fujian Materia Medica) 7. For scalds and burns: Appropriate amount of Agave americana var. variegata. Pound and apply to the affected area. (Sichuan Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 1982)
