1. Description:
Solanum lyratum (Chinese Pinyin: Bai Ying, Simplified Chinese: 白英, 山甜菜, 白草, 白幕, 排风, 排风草, 天灯笼, 和尚头草), is a species of perennial, flowering lianas (woody vine) in genus Solanum (nightshades family, Solanaceae). Found in the valley, meadows, fields and along the roadsides (usually from between 600 to 2,800 meters in elevation) in Asia (China, Japan and North Korea), the plant can grow up to 100 cm tall. Solanum lyratum is used as antipyretic, dampness-dispelling drug, detoxicant, discutient and anticancer drug in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) and widely adopted in treating different diseases and health problems, such as lung cancer.
2. Odour, Properties And Channels:
The root and seedling of Solanum lyratum is considered to have sweet, cold and nontoxic properties and to be associated with the liver and stomach meridians.
3. Uses, Health Benefits of Solanum Lyratum & Medical Formulas:
3.1 Rubella
A decoction of Solanum lyratum is taken orally to treat rubella with red rash.
3.2 Wind-Heat Related Dizziness
Solanum lyratum seeds, licorice root and chrysanthemum are powdered and taken with warm water to treat wind-heat related dizziness.
3.3 Anticancer
A decoction of Solanum lyratum, bark of Araiia chinensis root, Lysimachia christinae, Pteris multifida, artemisia capillaris and Hypericum japonicum is taken orally to treat cholangiocarcinoma or bile duct cancer.
A decoction of Solanum lyratum and Sculellaria barbata is taken orally to treat lung cancer.
4. Research And Studies:
Solanum lyratum contains ononin, genistin, 5-hydroxyl ononin, formononctin, daidzein, daidzin, 4-hydroxy-bermaldehyde, vanillie acid, protoeatechuie acid, elhyl–Ⅱ·D-ambinofuramⅪide and ursolie acid.
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.