✵The article records the herb Climbing Hop Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor—along with its botanical source: a single plant species, Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the morphological characteristics of the herb Climbing Hop Herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Herba Humuli Scandentis (Climbing Hop Herb)
Pinyin Name: Lǜ Cǎo
English Name: Climbing Hop Herb
Latin Name:Herba Humuli Scandentis Properties and Flavor: Cold, sweet, bitter
Brief Introduction:Herba Humuli Scandentis is the dried aerial part of Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr. (family Moraceae), used to treat enteritis, dysentery, acute urinary tract infections, and as a sedative for insomnia. It is commonly known as Herba Humuli Scandentis, Climbing Hop Herb, or Lü Cǎo.
Botanical Source: Traditional herbal classics define Herba Humuli Scandentis (Climbing Hop Herb) as the dried aerial part of Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr., a species in the genus Humulus L., family Moraceae (mulberry family), order Rosales. This commonly used species is described below:
(1) Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr.
Botanical Description:Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr. is also known as Antidesma scandens Lour., Humulus japonicus Sieb. et Zucc., and formerly Antidesma scandens. It is commonly called Lü Cǎo. An annual or perennial twining herb. Stems grow up to several meters long, pale green, with longitudinal ridges (striations); stem branches and petioles bear dense, inverted, short, hooked spines. Leaves are opposite and simple; petioles are 15–20 cm long, slightly 6-ridged, and covered with inverted, short, hooked spines; laminae are palmately lobed with 5–7 lobes, 5–15 cm in diameter; lobes are ovate or ovate-lanceolate, apex is acute or acuminate, margins are serrate; upper surface bears coarse bristles; lower surface bears fine oil glands and scattered bristles along veins.
Flowers are unisexual and dioecious; male inflorescences are panicles, female inflorescences are short spikes. Male flowers are small, with 5 tepals, chartreuse (yellowish-green), and 5 stamens; filaments are filiform, short and slender. Each pair of female flowers shares one tepal; the tepal is ovate-lanceolate, covered with white bristles and yellow glandular dots; it is ash-gray (grayish-white) and tightly envelops the pistil. The ovary is simple, with a protuberant upper portion sparsely covered with fine hairs.
Fruit clusters (strobiles) are green and subglobose; achenes are primrose-yellow (pale yellow) and oblate. Flowering occurs from June to October; fruiting from August to November.
Ecological Environment:Humulus scandens commonly grows along roadsides, in marshy areas near ditches, on fences of stockaded villages, wastelands, ruins, forest edges, and shrublands.
Growth Characteristics:Humulus scandens prefers warm, humid climates and exhibits strong adaptability. Cultivation is best carried out in deep, loose, fertile soils—such as sandy loam or loam—with good drainage.
Characteristics of the Herb: Leaves are often shriveled into balls. When flattened, intact leaves are nearly subreniform-pentagonal and palmately lobed with 5–7 lobes; margins are coarsely serrated; both surfaces bear trichomes; yellow glandular dots occur on the lower surface. Petioles measure 5–20 cm long, with longitudinal grooves and barbs (inverted hooked spines). Stems are cylindrical, bearing barbs and trichomes. The herb is brittle and fragile; stem cross-sections are hollow and uneven, with cortex and xylem easily separable. Inflorescences or fruit clusters may be present. The herb has a faint odor and a mild taste.
The herb is used medicinally; stem bark fiber serves as raw material for papermaking; seed oil is used in soap production; and fruit spikes serve as a substitute for hops (the strobiles and flowers of Humulus lupulus).
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Inhibitory effects against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, certain fungi and yeasts—including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus spp.; (2) antimicrobial activity, among others.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears heat and detoxifies, promotes diuresis, and treats stranguria. Indications include lung-heat cough, pulmonary abscess, asthenic fever with polydipsia, pyretic stranguria, edema, dysuria, damp-heat diarrhea and dysentery, toxic-heat sores and ulcers, and pruritic skin conditions.
Administration of Herba Humuli Scandentis (Lǜ Cǎo):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Herba Humuli Scandentis (Lǜ Cǎo)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: water decoction, 3–6 qian (approximately 9–18 grams); fresh herb, 2–4 liang (approximately 60–120 grams); or juice extract. External use: mashed herb applied topically, or fumigation wash using water decoction. (2) Internally: water decoction, 10–15 grams; fresh herb, 30–60 grams; or juice extract. External use: mashed herb applied topically, or fumigation wash using water decoction.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: The herb should be used cautiously in non-febrile conditions.
✵The article records the herb Climbing Hop Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor—along with its botanical source: a single plant species, Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the morphological characteristics of the herb Climbing Hop Herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Lǜ Cǎo
Botanical Description: Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr. is also known as Antidesma scandens Lour., Humulus japonicus Sieb. et Zucc., and formerly Antidesma scandens. It is commonly called Lü Cǎo. An annual or perennial twining herb. Stems grow up to several meters long, pale green, with longitudinal ridges (striations); stem branches and petioles bear dense, inverted, short, hooked spines. Leaves are opposite and simple; petioles are 15–20 cm long, slightly 6-ridged, and covered with inverted, short, hooked spines; laminae are palmately lobed with 5–7 lobes, 5–15 cm in diameter; lobes are ovate or ovate-lanceolate, apex is acute or acuminate, margins are serrate; upper surface bears coarse bristles; lower surface bears fine oil glands and scattered bristles along veins.
Ecological Environment: Humulus scandens commonly grows along roadsides, in marshy areas near ditches, on fences of stockaded villages, wastelands, ruins, forest edges, and shrublands.
Characteristics of the Herb: Leaves are often shriveled into balls. When flattened, intact leaves are nearly subreniform-pentagonal and palmately lobed with 5–7 lobes; margins are coarsely serrated; both surfaces bear trichomes; yellow glandular dots occur on the lower surface. Petioles measure 5–20 cm long, with longitudinal grooves and barbs (inverted hooked spines). Stems are cylindrical, bearing barbs and trichomes. The herb is brittle and fragile; stem cross-sections are hollow and uneven, with cortex and xylem easily separable. Inflorescences or fruit clusters may be present. The herb has a faint odor and a mild taste.
URL QR code:
