Pinyin: Lugen
Aliases
Lümaogen, Weigen, Lutou.
Source
Poaceae family plant *Phragmites communis* Trin.Phragmites communisFresh or dried rhizome of Trin.
Botanical Description
Perennial tall herb, 1-3 m high. Rhizome stout, creeping, with hollow internodes and buds at nodes. Stem erect, hollow. Leaves distichous, alternate; leaf sheath cylindrical, ligule hairy; leaf blade flat, 15-45 cm long, 1-3.5 cm wide, margin rough. Spikelets arranged into large terminal panicles, 20-40 cm long, slightly drooping, with white pubescence in the axils of lower branches; spikelets usually 4-7-flowered, 10-16 cm long; first flower usually male, glumes lanceolate, unequal, the first glume half as long as or shorter than the second; lemma longer than palea, smooth and spreading; bisexual flowers, stamens 3, pistil 1, styles 2, stigmas plumose. Caryopsis elliptic to oblong, separating from palea. Flowering and fruiting from July to October.
Habitat and Distribution
Grows in shallow water along the banks of rivers, ponds, and marshes. Distributed in most regions of the country.
Harvesting and Processing
It can be harvested year-round, remove buds, membranous leaves, and fibrous roots, cut into sections, and dry in the sun or use fresh.
Medicinal Properties
1. Fresh rhizome: long cylindrical, some slightly flattened, varying in length, diameter 1-2 cm. Surface yellow-white, glossy, with loose outer bark that can be peeled off. Nodes ring-like, with residual roots and bud scars. Light in weight, tough texture, not easily broken. Fracture surface yellow-white, hollow, wall thickness 1-2 mm, with small pores arranged in a ring. Odor: none; Taste: sweet.
2. Dried rhizome: flattened, long-cylindrical shape. Surface has luster, yellowish-white in color. Nodes are relatively hard, reddish-yellow, with longitudinal wrinkles between nodes. Light and pliable in texture. Odorless, taste slightly sweet.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains Vitamin B.112, vitamin C, as well as protein (5%), fat (1%), carbohydrates (51%), asparagine, and others.
Pharmacology
Has the effect of enhancing immunity.
Properties and Channel Entry
Sweet in taste, cold in nature. Enters the Lung and Stomach channels.
Functions and Indications
Clears Heat, drains Fire, generates body fluids, relieves thirst, alleviates irritability, stops vomiting, and promotes urination. Used for febrile disease with vexation and thirst, Lung Heat with cough and dyspnea, Lung abscess with spitting of pus, Stomach Heat with nausea and vomiting, and painful urinary dribbling due to Heat.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoct in water, 15-30 g, fresh product 60-120 g; or mash fresh product to extract juice. External use: appropriate amount, decoct in water for washing.
Precautions and Contraindications
Those with Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold should use with caution.
Prescriptions
1. For stomach heat with wasting-thirst (Xiaoke): Lugen 15 g, Mainendong, Digupi, and Fuling each 9 g, Chenpi 4.5 g. Decoct and take orally. (Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine) 2. For pertussis with hemoptysis: Lugen 30 g, Juanbai 6 g, Muhudie 6 g, Niupidong 7.5 g. Decoct in water and take orally. (Hunan Materia Medica) 3. For lobar pneumonia with high fever, thirst, and wheezing cough: Lugen 30 g, Mahuang 3 g, Gancao 6 g, Xingren 9 g, Shigao 15 g. Decoct in water and take orally. (Ningxia Chinese Herbal Medicine Manual) 4. For sore throat: Fresh Lugen, pound and squeeze juice, mix with honey and take orally. (Quanzhou Materia Medica) 5. For bleeding gums: Lugen, decoct in water and drink as tea. (Hunan Materia Medica)
