Pinyin: Lilu
Aliases
Shancong, Conglu, Hancong, Duyaocao, Qilidan.
Source
1. For pneumonia: Renshen 6 g, decoct in water and take orally.VeratrumnigrumL. of dried root and rhizome.
Botanical Description
Perennial herb, 60-100 cm tall. Plant robust, with basal sheaths withering and persisting as reticulate black fibrous webs. Leaves alternate; petiole absent or upper stem leaves with short petioles; leaf blades thinly leathery, elliptic, broadly ovate-elliptic, or ovate-lanceolate, 22-25 cm long, about 10 cm wide, apex acute to acuminate, both surfaces short-hairy. Panicle 30-50 cm, lateral racemes often with male flowers, terminal raceme usually more than 2 times longer than lateral racemes, almost entirely with bisexual flowers; rachis and branch rachis densely white woolly; perianth segments 6, spreading to slightly recurved, oblong, 5-8 mm long, about 3 mm wide, entire, black-purple; stamens 6, anthers reniform; ovary ovoid, 3-loculed, glabrous, styles 3. Capsule ovoid, with three obtuse angles, 1.5-2 cm long, 1-1.3 cm wide. Seeds flattened, with membranous wings. Flowering and fruiting period: July to September.
Habitat and Distribution
It grows on mountain slopes under forests or in grassy areas at altitudes of 1200-3000 m. It is distributed in Northeast China, North China, and Shaanxi, Gansu, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, and other regions.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvest before the flower scapes emerge from May to June, remove the leaves, and dry in the sun or with artificial heat.
Medicinal Properties
This product is cylindrical or conical in shape, 2-4 cm long and 0.5-1.5 cm in diameter; the surface is brownish-yellow or earthy yellow, with residual leaf bases and black fibers at the apex, resembling a straw rain cape, some with visible rhombic reticulations, and the lower part bears 10-30 thin roots. The roots are slender and slightly curved, 10-20 cm long, 0.1-0.4 cm in diameter, yellowish-white or yellowish-brown, with fine dense transverse wrinkles; light in weight. The texture is hard and brittle, the cut surface is off-white, with a light yellow fine woody center in the middle, separated from the bark. Odor: faint; Taste: bitter and acrid, with a stinging sensation in the throat; the powder has a strong emetic effect.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains acetylveratrine A, veratrine A, jervine, dideacetylveratrine A, verazine, veratroylzygadenine, veramine and other components.
Pharmacology
Has emetic, hypotensive, antimicrobial, and insecticidal effects. Toxic.
Properties and Channel Entry
Acrid, bitter, cold, and toxic. Enters the Liver, Lung, and Stomach channels.
Functions and Indications
Induces vomiting to expel Wind-Phlegm, kills parasites. Mainly indicated for Wind-stroke with Phlegm congestion, epilepsy, malaria, scabies and tinea, and malignant sores.
Dosage and Administration
Internal use: take in pill or powder form, 0.3-0.6 g. External use: appropriate amount, grind into powder and mix with oil or water for topical application.
Precautions and Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with weak constitution and Qi deficiency, as well as pregnant women
Prescriptions
1. For unbearable headache: Lülü (Veratrum nigrum) one stem, dry in the sun, grind into powder, add a sesame-sized amount of musk (Moschus), mix well, and blow into the nose. (From Shengji Zonglu: Blowing Nose Musk Powder) 2. For headache, nasal congestion, and chest stuffiness: Lülü (ground) 15 g, Huanglian (Coptis chinensis, root removed) 0.9 g. Grind the two ingredients into a powder, take a small amount each time, and inhale into the nose. (From Shengji Zonglu: Tongding Powder) 3. For toothache: Place Lülü powder into the tooth cavity; do not swallow the juice. (From Qianjin Yifang) 4. For scabies and tinea: Finely grind Lülü into powder, mix with raw oil, and apply externally. (From Doumen Fang) 5. For tinea with remarkable effect: Lülü root 15 g, Qingfen (Calomelas) 0.75 g. Grind into a fine powder, mix with cold water, and apply to the affected area. (From Puji Fang)
