✵The article records the herb Chinese Wolfberry Bark—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—two plant species: (1) Lycium chinense Mill. and (2) Lycium barbarum L., along with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species; the characteristics of the herb Chinese Wolfberry Bark; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Cortex Lycii (Chinese Wolfberry Bark)
Pinyin Name: Dì Gǔ Pí
English Name: Chinese Wolfberry Bark
Latin Name:Cortex Lycii Property and Flavor: Cold, sweet
Brief Introduction:Cortex Lycii is the dried root bark of Lycium chinense Mill. or Lycium barbarum L., used for treating chronic fever and hemoptysis in consumptive diseases, as well as wasting thirst. It is commonly known as Cortex Lycii, Chinese Wolfberry Bark, or Dì Gǔ Pí.
Botanical Source:Cortex Lycii (Chinese Wolfberry Bark) is the dried root bark of Lycium chinense Mill. or Lycium barbarum L.—plants of the genus Lycium in the Solanaceae family (nightshade family, including potato and tomato), the Solanales order. Classical herbal medicine works (e.g., CHMM) designate Lycium chinense Mill. as the primary source. The two commonly used species are introduced below:
(1) Lycium chinense Mill.
Botanical Description:Lycium chinense Mill., commonly known as Gǒu Qǐ or Zhōnghuá Gǒu Qǐ, is a deciduous shrub of the Solanaceae family and genus Lycium. It is relatively short and small, growing up to about 1 meter in height. A trailing (vining) shrub, its stems and branches are slender; the outer bark is gray, bearing short thorns (0.5–2 cm long) arising from leaf axils. Leaf blades are small, ovate (egg-shaped), ovate-rhomboid, oblong-ovate, or ovate-lanceolate, measuring 2–6 cm in length and 0.5–2.5 cm in width; the apex is acute or obtuse, the base is narrowly cuneate, margins are entire, and both surfaces are glabrous.
Flowers are purple; the corolla margin bears dense marginal setae (trichomes); the calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped) and 3–5-lobed; the corolla tube and lobes are approximately equal in length; the lower part of the corolla tube narrows, then expands upward into a funnelform (funnel-shaped) structure; both tube and lobes are broad. There are five stamens inserted into the corolla, slightly shorter than the corolla; anthers are T-shaped and basifixed; filaments are usually exserted.
Berries are oval (egg-shaped) or oblong, 10–15 mm long and 4–8 mm in diameter; seeds are yellow. Flowering occurs from June to September; fruiting from July to October.
Ecological Environment: Lycium chinense grows on hillsides, mountain slopes, field ridges, and hilly areas.
Growth Characteristics: Lycium chinense prefers cool climates and exhibits strong cold tolerance. Seeds germinate when temperatures are stably above 7 °C (44.6 °F); seedlings tolerate low temperatures of −3 °C (26.6 °F). Germination begins in spring when temperatures exceed 6 °C (42.8 °F). The plant survives winter at −25 °C (−13 °F) without frost injury. It possesses a well-developed root system and strong drought resistance—even thriving in arid deserts. High yields are achieved with adequate water supply, especially during flowering and fruiting periods. Prolonged waterlogging in low-lying land inhibits growth and may cause root rot. Under sufficient light, branches grow vigorously, producing abundant flowers and fruits, larger berries, higher yields, and superior quality. Lycium chinense thrives primarily in alkaline soils and sandy loams; it is best cultivated in fertile, deep-layered loam fields.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root bark is cylindrical, grooved, or irregularly rolled, varying in size—typically 3–10 cm long, 0.5–2 cm in diameter, and 1–3 mm thick. The outer surface is khaki or sallow (grayish-yellow), coarse and rough, with irregular vertical fissures; it readily exfoliates in scales. The inner surface is yellow-white, marked by fine longitudinal striations. The texture is loose and brittle, breaking easily; the fracture surface is uneven and shows distinct inner and outer layers—the outer layer thicker and khaki-colored, the inner layer ash-gray (grayish-white). The herb has a faint odor and tastes slightly sweet, followed by bitterness.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) The decoction inhibits Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A, and Shigella flexneri; (2) Antipyretic effect; (3) Antihypertensive effect; (4) Hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and uterotonic effects.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears deficient heat, cools the blood, drains lung fire, and cool blood to reduce steaming. It is indicated for yin deficiency with tidal fever, yin deficiency with consumptive fever, bone-steaming with night sweats, lung-heat cough, infantile malnutrition with stagnation and fever, hematemesis, hemoptysis, epistaxis, hematuria, and endogenous heat and consumptive thirst.
Administration of Cortex Lycii (Dì Gǔ Pí):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Cortex Lycii (Dì Gǔ Pí)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 9–15 grams; (2) Internally: Water decoction, 3–6 qián (≈9–18 grams), or prepared as pills or powder; external use: mouthwash or irrigation with water decoction, or application of ground herb powder as a topical paste; (3) Internally: Water decoction, 9–15 grams; higher doses may reach 15–30 grams.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Avoid iron utensils during preparation and decoction.
(2) Lycium barbarum L.
Botanical Description:Lycium barbarum L., also known as Lycium halimifolium Mill., is commonly called Ningxia Gǒu Qǐ or Ningxia Wolfberry, is a deciduous shrub of the Solanaceae family and genus Lycium. It is a shrub—or, under cultivation, a large shrub or small tree—reaching 1–3 m in height. Several main stems arise from the base; they are thick and stout. Branchlets bear longitudinal ridges; short thorns occur on leafless sections, while longer thorns bear leaves and flowers. Fruit-bearing branches are slender, often pendulous at the tips. The outer bark is pale grayish-yellow (ravous), glabrous. Leaves are alternate or clustered on short spurs; petioles are short; leaf blades are lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 2–8 cm long and 0.5–3 cm wide; apex is acute; base is cuneate or narrowly cuneate, tapering downward gradually into the petiole; margins are entire; upper surface is dark green; lower surface is pale green (pea-green), glabrous.
Flowers are axillary—usually solitary, or 2–6 flowers clustered on short branches; pedicels are slender; calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped), 4–5 mm long, apex is 2–3-lobed; lobes are broad-ovate or ovate-triangular; corolla is funnelform (funnel-shaped), tube is ≈8 mm long, apex is 5-lobed; lobes are ovate (egg-shaped), ≈5 mm long, pink or pale violet-red (light purplish-red), with dark purple veins; a ring of pubescence lines the corolla tube at the stamen insertion point; 5 stamens; 1 pistil; ovary is oblong, bilocular; style is linear; stigma is capitate.
Berries are ovoid, elliptic, or broadly ovate, 8–20 mm long and 5–10 mm in diameter; red or orange-red; pericarp is fleshy (pulpose). Seeds are numerous, subrounded-reniform and flattened, yellowish-brown. Flowering occurs from May to October; fruiting from June to October.
Ecological Environment: Lycium barbarum grows along ditch banks, hillsides, mountain slopes, field ridges (especially of irrigated fields), and canal embankments—both wild and cultivated.
Growth Characteristics: Lycium barbarum exhibits strong environmental adaptability. In its primary production regions, the annual mean temperature is 9.2 °C (48.56 °F); January mean, −7.1 °C (19.22 °F); July mean, 23.2 °C (73.76 °F). It is highly cold-tolerant, surviving winter at −25.6 °C (−14.08 °F) without frost injury. The plant requires full sunlight. Soil requirements are not stringent: it tolerates saline-alkaline, fertile, and drought-prone soils, but is intolerant of waterlogging. Optimal cultivation occurs in fertile, neutral to slightly acidic, well-drained light loam; saline-alkaline soils should contain ≤0.2% soluble salt. Unsuitable soils include strongly alkaline, heavy clay loam, paddy fields, and swampy areas.
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References:
1.Introduction of Di Gu Pi: Chinese Wolfberry Bark
✵The article records the herb Chinese Wolfberry Bark—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—two plant species: (1) Lycium chinense Mill. and (2) Lycium barbarum L., along with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species; the characteristics of the herb Chinese Wolfberry Bark; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Dì Gǔ Pí
Botanical Description: Lycium chinense Mill., commonly known as Gǒu Qǐ or Zhōnghuá Gǒu Qǐ, is a deciduous shrub of the Solanaceae family and genus Lycium. It is relatively short and small, growing up to about 1 meter in height. A trailing (vining) shrub, its stems and branches are slender; the outer bark is gray, bearing short thorns (0.5–2 cm long) arising from leaf axils. Leaf blades are small, ovate (egg-shaped), ovate-rhomboid, oblong-ovate, or ovate-lanceolate, measuring 2–6 cm in length and 0.5–2.5 cm in width; the apex is acute or obtuse, the base is narrowly cuneate, margins are entire, and both surfaces are glabrous.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root bark is cylindrical, grooved, or irregularly rolled, varying in size—typically 3–10 cm long, 0.5–2 cm in diameter, and 1–3 mm thick. The outer surface is khaki or sallow (grayish-yellow), coarse and rough, with irregular vertical fissures; it readily exfoliates in scales. The inner surface is yellow-white, marked by fine longitudinal striations. The texture is loose and brittle, breaking easily; the fracture surface is uneven and shows distinct inner and outer layers—the outer layer thicker and khaki-colored, the inner layer ash-gray (grayish-white). The herb has a faint odor and tastes slightly sweet, followed by bitterness.
Botanical Description: Lycium barbarum L., also known as Lycium halimifolium Mill., is commonly called Ningxia Gǒu Qǐ or Ningxia Wolfberry, is a deciduous shrub of the Solanaceae family and genus Lycium. It is a shrub—or, under cultivation, a large shrub or small tree—reaching 1–3 m in height. Several main stems arise from the base; they are thick and stout. Branchlets bear longitudinal ridges; short thorns occur on leafless sections, while longer thorns bear leaves and flowers. Fruit-bearing branches are slender, often pendulous at the tips. The outer bark is pale grayish-yellow (ravous), glabrous. Leaves are alternate or clustered on short spurs; petioles are short; leaf blades are lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 2–8 cm long and 0.5–3 cm wide; apex is acute; base is cuneate or narrowly cuneate, tapering downward gradually into the petiole; margins are entire; upper surface is dark green; lower surface is pale green (pea-green), glabrous.
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