Lilium brownii, Bai He 百合
Brown’s Lily, Hong Kong LilyBai He (TCM)
Houtte, L. van, Flore des serres et des jardin de l’Europe, (1845)
Lilium browniiBury, E., A selection of Hexandrian plants, 1831
Lilium brownii(Photo by Denis Barthel) (Wikimedia)
Botanical name:
Lilium spp.
- L. brownii (syn. L. japonicum)
- L. lancifolium
- L. pumilum
This is quite possibly synonymous with the western White Lily, L. candidum.
Parts used:
Bulb; scale leaves removed, boiled briefly, then dried.
Temperature & Taste:
Cool, moist, Sweet, slightly Bitter
Classifications:
H. Nourish the Heart
N. Tonic Medicines
Uses:
1. Nourish Yin, Moisten the Lungs:
-chronic Cough, dry Cough, Cough from deficiency
-Hemoptysis, Tuberculosis
-used where Lung Heat has damaged Lung Yin
-Sore Throat from excess Heat and dryness
-Cough from pathogenic Heat (Zhen Quan)
2. Clears Heat, Nourishes Yin, Calms the Heart and Spirit:
-Fidgeting, Restlessness, Absent-mindedness
-Irritability following febrile diseases
-Insomnia, Dream-disturbed Sleep
-Palpitations associated with Yin deficiency and Heat
-“enhances willpower and nourishes the Five Viscera” (Da Ming)
-“good for treating manic-depressive psychosis with crying” (Da Ming)
3. Promotes Urine:
-“facilitates Urine and Stool” (Shen Nong Ben Cao)
-“relieves puffy Edema” (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
-the Western White Lily bulb (L. candidum) is used for Edema
Dose:
Decoction: 6–12 grams (up to 30 grams)
Powder: 2–6 grams
Comment:
1. Lilium candidum, the White Lily used in the Western Tradition has similar effects to Lilium Bai He of TCM. However, the Bulb of that species is more used to resolve Phlegm and Masses, and against Heat and Poison. The use of the flowers of the White Lily in the West closely resembles the use of the bulb of Lilium Bai He of TCM. It remains to be seen if they are synonymous in use.
2. Lilium Bai He is a tonic medicine also commonly used in food and tea in China. It is a health tonic in all seasons, but is especially suitable during the Autumn. It is good for those with chronic Cough and Lung deficiency. It is often combined with Chinese Dates (Jujube, Da Zao), White Fungus, Goji etc.
Preparation:
It is sometimes stir-fried with Honey to increase its nourishing, moistening and tonifying effect on the Lung and stop Cough. 5kg of Honey is used for 100kg Lily bulb, stir-frying until no longer sticky.
Main Combinations:
1. Cough:
i. from Phlegm-Heat, Lilium Bai He with Fritillaria Bei Mu
ii. Lilium Bai He with Coltsfoot flower (Kuan Dong Hua) and Sweet Almond (Xing Ren)
iii. Lung Yin Deficiency, Lilium Bai He with Asparagus root (Tian Men Dong), Licorice
iv. Lung Deficiency, Lilium Bai He with Raisin, Elecampane, Licorice
v. Lung Heat with Yin deficiency and Blood-streaked Sputum, Lilium Bai He with Stemona Bai Bu, Coltsfoot flower (Kuan Dong Hua)
2. Dry Cough with Blood-streaked Sputum, Consumption, Lilium Bai He with Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang and Shu Di Huang, Figwort root (Xuan Shen), Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Platycodon Jie Geng, Licorice (as in Bai He Gu Jin Tang)
3. Consumptive Cough, shortness of Breath, Lilium Bai He with Gecko (Ge Jie), Turtle Shell (Gui Ban), Ephedra Ma Huang, Almond kernel (Xing Ren), Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Licorice, Lily bulb (Bai He) (as in Ge Jie Ding Chuan Wan)
4. Palpitations with Irritability:
i. Lilium Bai He with Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang
ii. Lilium Bai He with Sandalwood, Rose and Pearl
iii. Lilium Bai He with Salvia Dan Shen
5. Irritability, Mental disorientation from excess Heat, Lilium Bai He with Anemarrhena Zhi Mu
6. Mild cases of Insomnia, Palpitations, Restlessness, Irritability:
i. Lilium Bai He with Coix Yi Yi Ren and Lotus Seed (Lian Zi)
ii. Lilium Bai He with Euphoria Long Yan Rou
7. Yin Deficient Heat with Agitation, Insomnia, Lilium Bai He with Anemarrhena Zhi Mu
Major Formula:
Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Ge Jie Ding Chuan Wan
Xin Yi Qing Fei Yin
Cautions:
None noted.
Main Preparations used:
- Extra Info
- Research
–Genus Lilium: A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology