Belamcanda chinensis, She Gan 射干Blackberry LilyShe Gan (TCM) Surajkanti (Ayurveda) |
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She Gan (Belamcanda) (Bencao yuanshi, 1612) (Welcome)
Houtte, L. van, Flore des serres et des jardin de l’Europe, vol. 16 (1845)
Belamcanda chinensis(Photo by Brighterorange) (Wikimedia)
Botanical name:
Belamcanda chinensis (syn. B. flabellata, Iris domestica, Ixia chinensis, Moraea chinensis, Pardanthus sinensis)
Tibetan Medicine uses the Forked Iris (Iris dichotoma) which is called Bai Hua She Gan in China. While it is listed as an adulterant to Belamcanda She Gan by Bensky, the root has similar functions and uses to She Gan and can be used similarly, although not as strong.
Parts used:
Rhizome
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. Bitter, Pungent
Classification:
1. B. Clear Heat and Toxin
Uses:
1. Clears Heat and Toxin:
-Sore Throat, Laryngitis, Pharyngitis, Tonsillitis from Phlegm-Heat or Toxic Heat (TCM, Ayurveda)
-it has been used as a single herb for acute Heat-type Sore Throat
2. Moves the Blood, Resolves Masses:
-Scrofula, Lumps, hardness of the Spleen
-Tumors and Cancers (including Breast, Prostate
-Triterpenoids and Flavonoids have shown anti-cancer and anti-tumor activity
-has also been used as an abortifacient
3. Clears Heat and Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-Cough and Wheezing from Heat-Toxin and Phlegm
-Pneumonia (Ayurveda)
4. Externally:
-topically to Rheumatism, Dermatitis
-skin infection with pus, (Mix powder with vinegar and apply)
-Tumors, Lymphadenitis, Goiter
-in India, it is applied to Snake Bite
Dose:
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams
Preparation:
1. Fried Belamcanda (Chao She Gan)
The root is dry-fried or baked until browned. This moderates its harsh and cold nature.
In Tibetan Medicine, the related Forked Iris (Bai Hua She Gan) is stir-fried with wheat to moderate it.
2. Washed Belamcanda
Soak the durg in Rice rinse water overnight. Remove, then dry in the sun.
Some add another process. After soaking in Rice rinse water they stew with Bamboo leaf (Zhu Ye), then dry in the sun.
This also moderates its harsh effects.
Main Combinations:
1. Cough and Wheezing:
i. Cough, Sore Throat, from Lung Heat, Belamcanda with Scutellaria Huang Qin, Platycodon Jie Geng
ii. from Cold Phlegm, Belamcanda with Ephedra Ma Huang, Ginger (Gan Jiang), Asarum Xi Xin, Pinellia Ban Xia, Coltsfoot (Kuan Dong Hua), Licorice (as in She Gan Ma Huang Tang)
iii. from Hot Phlegm, Belamcanda with Scutellaria Huang Qin, Mulberry bark (Sang Bai Pi)
2. Sore Throat, Tonsillitis:
i. Belamcanda with Lonicera Jin Yin Hua, Lasiophaera Ma Bo (as in Yin Qiao Ma Bo San)
ii. Belamcanda with Forsythia Lian Qiao, Platycodon Jie Geng, Isatis Ban Lan Gen
iii. Belamcanda with Chrysanthemum Ju Hua, Peppermint (Bo He), Forsythia Lian Qiao, Platycodon Jie Geng, Licorice
iv. Tonsillitis, Belamcanda with Forsythia Lian Qiao, Burdock seed (Niu Bang Zi), Figwort (Xuan Shen), Licorice
v. from Heat and Toxin, Belamcanda with Figwort (Xuan Shen), Cimifuga Sheng Ma
3. Tuberculosis, Belamcanda with Forsythia Lian Qiao, Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao)
4. Hard mass in the groin, stew a 3 inch piece of Belamcanda ropot with fresh Ginger. (Zhu Zhen Heng)
Major Formulas:
She Gan Ma Huang Tang
Yin Qiao Ma Bo San
Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan
Cautions:
1. Not used during Pregnancy.
2. Caution in people with loose stool. The Fried root is most suitable in weak stomachs.
3. “Long-term use makes one debilitated” (Ming Yi Bie Lu). This effect is negated by preparation.