Lycopus, Bugleweed, Ze Lan 泽兰

Bugleweed, Gypsywort, Paul’s Betony, Water Horehound
Ze Lan, Shiny Bugleweed TCM)
Picture Lycopus europaeus (used in both Europe and TCM)
Lindman, C.A.M., Bilder ur Nordens Flora 1922

Botanical name:


Lycopus spp.
The following species can be considered fairly synonymous in effect:
  1. L. europaeus (syn. L. vulgaris) (Europe, and in XinJiang, China as Ze Lan)
  2. L. lucidus (syn. L. lucidus var. hirtus) (TCM standard species)
  3. L. parviflorus (TCM, local variety)
  4. L. machianus (TCM, local variety)
  5. L. coreanus (TCM, local variety)
  6. L. ramosissimus (TCM, local variety)
  7. L. virginicus (U.S.)

Parts used:


Whole Herb

Temperature & Taste:


Slightly Warm, dry. Bitter, Pungent

Classifications:


K. Move the Blood

Uses:


1. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis, Stops Bleeding:
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Uterine Pain from Blood Stasis (TCM, West)
-‘its soothing tonic influence is extended over the uterine organs, rendering it of service in neuralgia, and painful and excessive menstruation’. (Cook)
-Masses, Hardness; ‘abnormal growths’. (Galen)
-Postpartum Pain from Blood stasis
-Trauma, Bruising, Wounds
-Hemoptysis, Hematuria, Menorrhagia, Phthisis (Europe)
-a Wound herb in the West and TCM; internally and topically for Wounds, Ulcers, Fistulas etc

2. Resists Poison, Resolves Swelling:
-‘excellent Antidote against all Poisons’ (Galen)
-Abscesses, Toxic Swellings and Sores (TCM, West)
-Fever (West); Tertian and Quartan Fevers (Galen)
-Diarrhea, Dysentery (America)
-Bites (West)

3. Clears Heat, Regulates the Heart:
-Hyperthyroidism, Goiter (anti-thyrotrophic action)
-internal inflammations
-Palpitations, mild Insomnia, Anxiety, Restlessness, PMS
-Chest oppression, Palpitation, Dyspnoea, Chest pain (Eli Jones)
-reduces frequency of the pulse in cardiac or nervous irritation. (Cook)

4. Clears Damp, Promotes Urination:
-Edema, Facial Edema
-Postpartum painful urination
-Diabetes, Albuminaria, Polyuria or excessive Urination (West)
-Spermatorrhea (Cook)
-this effect is mild

5. Externally:
-as a pessary with Ointment of Roses or Pork fat for Uterine pains (Dioscorides)
-applied topically with Vinegar to Erysipelas (Dioscorides)
-applied with Honey to Wounds and Old Wounds (Dioscorides)
-juice is used in Eye medicines (Galen)
-as a wash for Fistulas (Cook)
-‘It may be used as a snuff in catarrh’. (Cook)


Dose:


Infusion: half–1 oz. in a pint of boiling water, taken in doses of 1–2 fluid ounces.
Decoction: 6–15 grams
Powder: 1–4 grams
Saturated Tincture: 2–5mls.; 15 drops three times daily was a common dose.
Flui Extract: 10–30 drops

Comment:


The Chinese L. lucidus (Ze Lan) and European L. europaeus (Bugleweed) can be considered interchangeable. This is partly seen in the fact that they are closely related plants with similar appearance and chemistry, but mostly when we see the latter is used in North-Western China (XinJiang) for Lycopus Ze Lan.
  Further, the American L. virginicus was viewed as synonymous with the European variety, again showing similar use.
  Holmes (Jade Remedies) states that the Chinese and European/American varieties of Lycopus ‘differ completely’ in their use. While their use is different, they are equivalent plants (as demonstrated above), just their focus of use is different in East and West.

Substitute:


1. Bugleweed was said to be most similar to Hops. (Medical Flora, 1828)
2. To lower the pulse, some American physicians regarded Bugleweed as a non-toxic substitite to Digitalis.

Main Combinations:


1. Dysmenorrhea:
i. Lycopus Ze Lan with Ligusticum Chuan Xiong
ii. Lycopus Ze Lan with Dang Gui, Paeonia Chi Shao, Motherwort Yi Mu Cao
2. Postpartum Pain:
i. Lycopus Ze Lan with Motherwort Yi Mu Cao
ii. Lycopus Ze Lan with Dang Gui, Peach kernel (Tao Ren), Motherwort Yi Mu Cao
3. Pain from Trauma:
i. Lycopus Ze Lan, Salvia Dan Shen
ii. Lycopus Ze Lan with Myrrh, Safflower
iii. Lycopus Ze Lan with Turmeric (Jiang Huang) as a wash
4. Painful Swollen Abscess:
i. Lycopus Ze Lan with Dang Gui, Loniera Jin Yin Hua
ii. Lycopus Ze Lan with Violet, Dandelion
iii. Lycopus Ze Lan with Black Nightshade topically
5. Painful, dribbling Urine, Lycopus Ze Lan with Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)
6. Postpartum Edema, Lycopus Ze Lan with Stephania Han Fang Ji
7. Hyperthyroidism, Graves Disease:
i. Bugleweed, Skullcap
ii. Bugleweed, Balm
8. Palpitations:
i. Bugleweed, Hawthorn
ii. with restlessness, anxiety, Bugleweed, Balm, Motherwort
9. Hemoptysis:
i. Bugleweed, Plantain
ii. Bugleweed, Comfrey (Cook)
iii. Bugleweed, Capsicum (England)
10. Fistula, solid extract mixed with Lard and applied (Cook)

Major Formulas:



Cautions:


1. Recommended to avoid in Hypothyroid conditions. Long-term use may cause Thyroid enlargement.

Drug Interactions:


Don’t use with Thyroid medication.

Main Preparations used:


Dry Extract

DRY EXTRACT OF LYCOPUS:
  A strong decoction is made, the strained herbs can be decocted again to extract the maximum virtues. Then the strained and filtered decoction is allowed to gently boil down until thick at which time it should be dried in a water bath to a suitable thickness. Dose: 5–10 grains, three times daily. (Cook)