1. Description:
Lablab bean (scientific name: Lablab purpureus, Chinese Pinyin: Bian Dou, Simplified Chinese: 扁豆), is a species of annual or short-lived perennial flowering vines in genus Lablab (bean family, Fabaceae). Native to Africa and widely cultivated across the tropical regions, white lablab beans are used as anti-diarrheal, dampness-dispelling drug and hemostatic (stops bleeding drug) in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) and widely adopted in treating different diseases and health problems, such as red and white vaginal discharge.
Other names for the lablab bean include: hyacinth bean, lablab-bean, bonavist bean/pea, dolichos bean, seim bean, lablab bean, Egyptian kidney bean, Indian bean, bataw and Australian pea.
Other simplified Chinese names for lablab bean include:火镰扁豆, 膨皮豆, 藤豆, 沿篱豆, 鹊豆, 皮扁豆, 豆角, 白扁豆.
2. Odour, Properties And Channels:
Lablab bean is considered to have sweet, neutral and nontoxic properties and to be associated with the stomach meridians.
3. Uses, Health Benefits of Lablab Beans & Medical Formulas:
3.1 Reducing Inflammation, Swelling And Relieving Pain
A decoction of seeds of celosia argentea (15g), sodium sulfate (4.5g), seed of wild jujube (12g), butterflybush flower (9g), semen cassiae (9g), white lablab bean (15g) is taken orally to treat chronic uveitis.
Powdered white lablab beans is taken with congee to relieve abdominal pain and cramps after an abortion.
3.2 Arsenic Poisoning
[Ancient Prescription] Juice extracted from lablab beans is taken orally to treat arsenic poisoning.
3.3 Gynecological Diseases and Disorders
Powdered lablab beans is fried and taken with meal to treat red and white vaginal discharge.
White lablab bean flower is baked and taken on an empty stomach to treat bleeding disorder with heavy bleeding during periods.
3.4 The Digestive System
Elsholtzia ciliata (root removed), Zhi Gan Cao (processed licorice root, radix glycyrrhizae preparata), white lablab bean (fried), mangnolia officinalis (bark removed, fried with ginger juice) and poria with hostwood are pounded into powder for internal taking to treat nausea caused by gastric disorder.
3.5 Anti-Diarrheal
Dumplings with white lablab bean flower, pork, pepper and soy sauce is taken to treat diarrhea.
The Ben Cao Medical Book (also known as Compendium of Materia Medica or Ben Cao Gang Mu; Chinese: 本草纲目) is the most famous and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Compiled and written by Li Shi-zhen (1518~1593), a medical expert of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) over 27 years.
The Ben Cao Medical Book records and describes all the plants, animals, minerals, and other objects that were believed to have medicinal properties in TCM. The book reflects the pharmaceutical achievements and developments of East Asia before the 16th century. On the basis of his predecessors’ achievements in the pharmacological studies, Li contributed further by supplementing and rectifying many past mistakes and misconception in relate to nature of many medicinal substances and causes of various illnesses. Charles Darwin, originator of the biological theory of evolution, regards the book as the “ancient Chinese encyclopedia”.
Disclaimer: The Ben Cao Medical Book is translated by ChinaAbout.net . The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of CTM knowledge and information from the research and experience from the author Li Shi-zhen. Kindly be alert that the CTM knowledge and ancient formulas given above are likely NOT medically proven and may contain misconceptions.