Pinyin: Baihuadan
Aliases
Jia Moli, Bai Xuehua, Tian Binglang.
Source
Plant of the Plumbaginaceae family, *Plumbago zeylanica* L.Plumbago zeyla-nicaL. of dried whole plant or root.
Botanical Description
A perennial vine-like subshrub herb, 2-3 m tall. Stems slender, woody at the base, much branched, with fine ridges, nodes often reddish, glabrous (hairless) except for glands. Leaves simple, alternate; petioles expanded at base and clasping the stem; leaf blades papery, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 4-10 cm long, 1.5-5 cm wide, apex acute, base broadly cuneate, glabrous, entire. Spikes terminal or axillary, 5-25 cm long; bracts shorter than the calyx, margins scarious; calyx tubular, green, about 1 cm long, 5-lobed at the apex, 5-ridged, ridges with scarious tissue between them, externally glandular-hairy, sticky; corolla white or white with a slight blue tint, salverform, tube narrow and long, about 2 cm long, 5-lobed at the apex, spreading; stamens 5, inserted at the throat; ovary superior, 1-locular, style with 5 stigmas. Capsule membranous. Flowering from October to March of the following year, fruiting from February to April of the following year.
Habitat and Distribution
It is mostly found in hot climate regions, commonly growing in damp areas along ditches or in open spaces beside village roads. It is distributed in Southwest China, as well as Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and other regions.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvested throughout the year, cut into segments and dried in the sun or used fresh.
Chemical Constituents
This product primarily contains plumbagin, plumbagic acid, vanillic acid,β-β-sitosterol, isoplumbagin, plumbagin, 3,6′-biplumbagin, and other constituents.
Pharmacology
It has anti-fertility effects. In small doses, it stimulates isolated small intestine and uterus; in moderate doses, it first stimulates then paralyzes; in large doses, it causes paralysis from the onset, especially in the gravid uterus. It has antimicrobial effects. It mildly inhibits respiration and blood pressure in rabbits, and directly paralyzes the isolated frog heart, causing cardiac arrest in the diastolic phase. It has anticoagulant activity. In small doses, it has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system.
Properties and Channel Entry
Acrid, bitter, astringent, warm, and toxic.
Functions and Indications
Expels Wind and eliminates Dampness, moves Qi and activates Blood, resolves toxicity and reduces swelling. Indications: rheumatic Bi pain (arthralgia), epigastric and cardiac Qi pain, hepatosplenomegaly, amenorrhea due to Blood stasis, traumatic sprains and contusions, abscesses, furuncles, and scrofula, scabies and tinea with itching, venomous snake bites.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoct in water, 9-15 g. Topical: appropriate amount, decoct in water for washing; or mash for application; or apply by rubbing.
Precautions and Contraindications
Contraindicated during pregnancy. Duration of external application should not be too long to avoid blistering.
Prescriptions
1. For boils and venomous snake bites: apply fresh *Baihuadan* (*Plumbago zeylanica*) leaves, mashed, to the affected area; remove when a burning sensation is felt. (From *Honghe Chinese Herbal Medicine*) 2. For thick skin tinea (ringworm): mash *Baihuadan* stems and leaves and apply as a poultice. (From *Guangxi Illustrated Guide to Medicinal Plants*) 3. For corneal opacity (eye nebula): mash fresh *Baihuadan* leaves and apply to the Yintang point (between the eyebrows); remove when blisters appear. (From *Fujian Materia Medica*) 4. For painful hard calluses on the soles: take 1 handful of fresh *Baihuadan* leaves, 1 pinch of cooked rice, and a little salt; mash together, apply as a plaster, and change once daily. (From *Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine*) 5. For sprains and contusions: soak 90 g of *Baihuadan* root in 500 ml of white liquor or 60% ethanol for 3-5 days; apply the solution to the affected area several times daily. (From *Hunan Materia Medica*)
