Introduction of Ban Zhi Lian: Barbated Skullcap Herb
✵The article records the herb Barbated Skullcap Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—one plant species: Scutellaria barbata D. Don, and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, as well as the macroscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Bàn Zhī Lián
English Name: Barbated Skullcap Herb
Latin Name:Herba Scutellariae Barbatae Properties and Flavor: Cold, acrid, slightly bitter
Brief Introduction:Herba Scutellariae Barbatae is the dried whole plant of Scutellaria barbata D. Don, used for the treatment of boils and sores, cirrhosis with ascites, and snake or insect bites. It is commonly known as Barbated Skullcap Herb, Barbed Skullcap Herb, or Ban Zhi Lian.
Botanical Source: Herbal classics define Herba Scutellariae Barbatae (Barbated Skullcap Herb) as the dried whole plant of Scutellaria barbata D. Don. It is a plant of the genus Scutellaria L., family Lamiaceae (mint family), order Lamiales. This commonly used species is described below:
(1) Scutellaria barbata D.Don.
Botanical Description:Scutellaria barbata D. Don is also known as Scutellaria rivularis Wall. It is commonly called Ban Zhi Lian. A perennial herb, growing up to 15–50 cm tall. The stem is quadrangular, glabrous or sparsely covered with appressed short hairs on the upper part of the rachis (inflorescence axis); it is unbranched or bears several branches. Leaves are opposite; petioles are 1–3 mm long; leaf blades are ovate (egg-shaped), triangular-ovate, or lanceolate, 1–3 cm long and 0.4–1.5 cm wide; the apex is acute or slightly obtuse; the base is broadly cuneate or subtruncate; the margin is sparsely shallowly crenate; the upper surface is olive-green; the lower surface is purplish; both surfaces are sparsely covered with appressed short hairs along the veins or glabrate; lateral veins occur in 2–3 pairs, prominent with the midvein on the lower surface.
Flowers are opposite and arranged in terminal or axillary racemes, 4–10 cm long, deviating to one side; bracts in the lower part of the inflorescence are foliaceous (leaf-like) and larger, while those in the upper part gradually diminish in size and are entire; pedicels are 1–2 mm long and puberulent; a pair of acicular bracteoles (~0.5 mm long) arises near the middle of each pedicel; the calyx is 2–2.5 mm long (up to 4 mm in fruit), puberulent along the veins externally; calyx lobes bear short marginal setae (trichomes); the scutellum is ~1 mm high (up to ~2 mm in fruit). The corolla is royal purple (bluish-violet), 1–1.4 cm long, pubescent externally; the base of the corolla tube is saccate (pouch-like) and enlarged (~1.5 mm wide), gradually widening upward to ~3.5 mm at the throat; the upper lip is cucullate (~2 mm long); the lower lip is broader, with a trapezoidal middle lobe (~3 mm long) and triangular-ovate lateral lobes. There are four stamens: the anterior pair is longer, with fertile half-anthers and inconspicuous degenerate half-anthers; the posterior pair is shorter, with fully developed anthers; filaments are sparsely pubescent at the base; the floral disc is discoid, with the anterior portion elevated and the posterior portion extended into a short gynophore; the ovary is deeply 4-lobed; the style is slender and elongated.
Nutlets are brown, oblate, ~1 mm in diameter, with minute verrucous projections. Flowering occurs from May to October; fruiting occurs from June to November.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows along stream banks, field margins, or in moist grasslands.
Growth Characteristics: Scutellaria barbata prefers a warm and humid climate. It thrives best in loose, fertile loam or sandy loam with good drainage.
Characteristics of the Herb: The whole herb is 15–30 cm long. Roots are slender and thread-like. The stem is quadrangular, 2–5 mm in diameter, with a yellowish-green to dark purple surface. Leaves are opposite, shriveled or curled; when flattened, they are ovate-lanceolate, 1.5–3 cm long and 0.5–1 cm wide, sparsely pilose; the upper surface is dark green; the lower surface is celadon (grayish-green); petioles are short or nearly sessile. The branch apex bears a lateral raceme with a persistent calyx, sometimes containing four nutlets. The stem is soft and easily broken. The herb has a slight odor and tastes bitter and astringent. High-grade herb material is green and strongly bitter.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Mild inhibitory effect on acute myeloid leukemia cells; (2) diuretic effect; (3) in vitro inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears heat, detoxifies, invigorates blood circulation to dissipate stasis, stops bleeding, alleviates pain, promotes diuresis, and reduces swelling. It is indicated for hematemesis, epistaxis, hematuria with dysuria, bloody dysentery, jaundice, sore throat, pyretic toxic carbuncles and swellings, pulmonary abscess, acute appendicitis, furuncles and ulcers, scrofula, venomous sores, edema, ascites, cancer, traumatic injuries (e.g., knife wounds or falls), and snakebites.
Administration of Herba Scutellariae Barbatae (Bàn Zhī Lián):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Herba Scutellariae Barbatae (Bàn Zhī Lián)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: water decoction, 0.5–1 liǎng (approximately 15–30 grams); fresh herb, 1–2 liǎng (approximately 30–60 grams), or freshly squeezed juice. Topical: mashed herb applied externally. (2) Internally: water decoction, 15–30 grams; double the dose for fresh herb, or prepared as pills or powder. Topical: appropriate amount; fresh herb mashed and applied externally.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Herba Scutellariae Barbatae should be used with caution during pregnancy.
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1.Introduction of Ban Zhi Lian:Barbated Skullcap Herb
✵The article records the herb Barbated Skullcap Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—one plant species: Scutellaria barbata D. Don, and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, as well as the macroscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Bàn Zhī Lián
Botanical Description: Scutellaria barbata D. Don is also known as Scutellaria rivularis Wall. It is commonly called Ban Zhi Lian. A perennial herb, growing up to 15–50 cm tall. The stem is quadrangular, glabrous or sparsely covered with appressed short hairs on the upper part of the rachis (inflorescence axis); it is unbranched or bears several branches. Leaves are opposite; petioles are 1–3 mm long; leaf blades are ovate (egg-shaped), triangular-ovate, or lanceolate, 1–3 cm long and 0.4–1.5 cm wide; the apex is acute or slightly obtuse; the base is broadly cuneate or subtruncate; the margin is sparsely shallowly crenate; the upper surface is olive-green; the lower surface is purplish; both surfaces are sparsely covered with appressed short hairs along the veins or glabrate; lateral veins occur in 2–3 pairs, prominent with the midvein on the lower surface.
Flowers are opposite and arranged in terminal or axillary racemes, 4–10 cm long, deviating to one side; bracts in the lower part of the inflorescence are foliaceous (leaf-like) and larger, while those in the upper part gradually diminish in size and are entire; pedicels are 1–2 mm long and puberulent; a pair of acicular bracteoles (~0.5 mm long) arises near the middle of each pedicel; the calyx is 2–2.5 mm long (up to 4 mm in fruit), puberulent along the veins externally; calyx lobes bear short marginal setae (trichomes); the scutellum is ~1 mm high (up to ~2 mm in fruit). The corolla is royal purple (bluish-violet), 1–1.4 cm long, pubescent externally; the base of the corolla tube is saccate (pouch-like) and enlarged (~1.5 mm wide), gradually widening upward to ~3.5 mm at the throat; the upper lip is cucullate (~2 mm long); the lower lip is broader, with a trapezoidal middle lobe (~3 mm long) and triangular-ovate lateral lobes. There are four stamens: the anterior pair is longer, with fertile half-anthers and inconspicuous degenerate half-anthers; the posterior pair is shorter, with fully developed anthers; filaments are sparsely pubescent at the base; the floral disc is discoid, with the anterior portion elevated and the posterior portion extended into a short gynophore; the ovary is deeply 4-lobed; the style is slender and elongated.
Characteristics of the Herb: The whole herb is 15–30 cm long. Roots are slender and thread-like. The stem is quadrangular, 2–5 mm in diameter, with a yellowish-green to dark purple surface. Leaves are opposite, shriveled or curled; when flattened, they are ovate-lanceolate, 1.5–3 cm long and 0.5–1 cm wide, sparsely pilose; the upper surface is dark green; the lower surface is celadon (grayish-green); petioles are short or nearly sessile. The branch apex bears a lateral raceme with a persistent calyx, sometimes containing four nutlets. The stem is soft and easily broken. The herb has a slight odor and tastes bitter and astringent. High-grade herb material is green and strongly bitter.
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