Introduction of Bàn Biān Lián: Chinese Lobelia Herb
✵The article records the herb Chinese Lobelia Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—a single plant species, Lobelia chinensis Lour., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species; as well as the macroscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Herba Lobeliae Chinensis (Chinese Lobelia Herb)
Pinyin Name: Bàn Biān Lián
English Name: Chinese Lobelia Herb
Latin Name:Herba Lobeliae Chinensis Properties and Flavor: Neutral in nature, pungent
Brief Introduction:Herba Lobeliae Chinensis is the dried whole plant of Lobelia chinensis Lour., used to clear heat, detoxify, and promote diuresis for treating anasarca, ascites, boils, and snake or insect bites. It is commonly known as Herba Lobeliae Chinensis, Chinese Lobelia Herb, or Bàn Biān Lián.
Botanical Source: Herbal classical works and official pharmacopoeias define Herba Lobeliae Chinensis (Chinese Lobelia Herb) as the dried whole plant of Lobelia chinensis Lour. It belongs to the genus Lobelia L., family Campanulaceae (bellflower family), order Campanulales. This commonly used species is described below:
(1) Lobelia chinensis Lour.
Botanical Description:Lobelia chinensis Lour. is also known as Lobelia radicans Thunb. (L. radicans Thunb.) and is commonly called Bàn Biān Lián. It is a perennial dwarf herb, growing up to only 10 cm tall. The stem is slender and mostly procumbent on the ground; roots develop at the nodes. Branches are upright and glabrous; white latex exudes when broken. Leaves are alternate, sessile or subsessile; leaf blades are narrow-lanceolate or linear, 8–25 mm long, with an acute apex; margins are entire or shallowly and sparsely undulate-serrate; surfaces are glabrous.
Flowers are hermaphroditic, usually solitary in the leaf axils of the upper branches. At the base are one or two bracteoles (~1 mm long) or sometimes none; bracteoles are glabrous. The calyx tube is obconical, tapering at the base and not distinctly differentiated from the pedicel; it is 3–5 mm long, glabrous, and divided into five narrowly triangular lobes. The corolla is pink or white, 10–15 mm long; the dorsal side splits to the base; the portion below the corolla throat is white-pilose; the corolla has five lobes, all spreading and forming a flat surface—the two lateral lobes are lanceolate and longer, while the three central lobes are elliptic-lanceolate and shorter. There are five stamens, ~8 mm long; the upper part of the filaments is fused with the anthers; the two lower anthers are piliferous, and the three upper anthers are glabrous; the lower half of each filament is free. There is one pistil; the ovary is inferior and bilocular.
The capsule is obconical, ~6 mm long. Seeds are elliptical, slightly oblate, and nearly fleshy. Flowering occurs from May to August; fruiting occurs from August to October.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows near irrigated fields, roadsides, ditches, moist shady slopes, and wastelands.
Growth Characteristics:Lobelia chinensis prefers a warm and humid climate and thrives in moist ditch margins and riparian wetlands. It is drought-sensitive but tolerant of cold and waterlogging. Cultivation is best carried out in loose, fertile clay loam.
Characteristics of the Herb: The whole plant is 15–35 cm long, often tangled into a mass. Roots are thin and small, bearing lateral fine fibrous roots. The rhizome is elongated-cylindrical, 1–2 mm in diameter; the surface is primrose yellow (pale yellow) or yellowish-brown, with fine longitudinal striations. The stem is thin and long, branched, celadon (sage green or grayish green), with conspicuous nodes. Leaves are alternate and sessile; leaf blades are mostly shriveled and greenish-brown; when flattened, they are narrow-lanceolate or ovate-oblong, 1–2.5 cm long and 2–5 mm wide; margins are sparsely serrate. Pedicels are thin and long; flowers are small and solitary in leaf axils; the corolla is basally connate, with the upper part five-lobed and laterally asymmetrical (leaning to one side), mauve (lilac), and bearing white hairs inside the corolla tube. The herb has a slightly distinctive odor and tastes slightly sweet and pungent.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears heat and detoxifies, promotes diuresis, and reduces swelling. It is indicated for venomous snakebite, carbuncles and malignant boils, tonsillitis, eczema, tinea pedis, traumatic injuries (e.g., falls), damp-heat jaundice, appendicitis, enteritis, nephritis, cirrhotic ascites, and various cancers.
Administration of Herba Lobeliae Chinensis (Bàn Biān Lián):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Herba Lobeliae Chinensis (Bàn Biān Lián)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 9–15 grams, as a water decoction. (2) Internally: water decoction, 0.5–1 liǎng (≈15–30 grams), as a water decoction; or fresh herb juice, taken orally. Externally:appropriate amount, mashed and applied topically, or fresh juice smeared on the affected area. (3) Internally: water decoction, 15–30 grams, as a water decoction; or fresh herb juice, taken orally. Externally:appropriate amount, mashed and applied topically, or fresh juice smeared on the affected area.
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1.Introduction of Bàn Biān Lián: Chinese Lobelia Herb
✵The article records the herb Chinese Lobelia Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—a single plant species, Lobelia chinensis Lour., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species; as well as the macroscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Bàn Biān Lián
Botanical Description: Lobelia chinensis Lour. is also known as Lobelia radicans Thunb. (L. radicans Thunb.) and is commonly called Bàn Biān Lián. It is a perennial dwarf herb, growing up to only 10 cm tall. The stem is slender and mostly procumbent on the ground; roots develop at the nodes. Branches are upright and glabrous; white latex exudes when broken. Leaves are alternate, sessile or subsessile; leaf blades are narrow-lanceolate or linear, 8–25 mm long, with an acute apex; margins are entire or shallowly and sparsely undulate-serrate; surfaces are glabrous.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows near irrigated fields, roadsides, ditches, moist shady slopes, and wastelands.
Characteristics of the Herb: The whole plant is 15–35 cm long, often tangled into a mass. Roots are thin and small, bearing lateral fine fibrous roots. The rhizome is elongated-cylindrical, 1–2 mm in diameter; the surface is primrose yellow (pale yellow) or yellowish-brown, with fine longitudinal striations. The stem is thin and long, branched, celadon (sage green or grayish green), with conspicuous nodes. Leaves are alternate and sessile; leaf blades are mostly shriveled and greenish-brown; when flattened, they are narrow-lanceolate or ovate-oblong, 1–2.5 cm long and 2–5 mm wide; margins are sparsely serrate. Pedicels are thin and long; flowers are small and solitary in leaf axils; the corolla is basally connate, with the upper part five-lobed and laterally asymmetrical (leaning to one side), mauve (lilac), and bearing white hairs inside the corolla tube. The herb has a slightly distinctive odor and tastes slightly sweet and pungent.
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