Introduction of Ban Zhi Lian:Barbated Skullcap Herb or Herba Scutellariae Barbatae.

TCM Herbalism:Medicinals and Classifications. ✵The article gives records of the herb Barbated Skullcap Herb, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Scutellaria barbata D.Don., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Barbated Skullcap Herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Herba Scutellariae Barbatae(Barbated Skullcap Herb).

flowering plant of Barbated Skullcap Herb Pin Yin Name: Bàn Zhī Lián.
 English Name: Barbated Skullcap Herb.
 Latin Name: Herba Scutellariae Barbatae.
 Property and flavor: cold, pungent, slightly bitter.

 Brief introduction: The herb Herba Scutellariae Barbatae is the dried entire plant of Scutellaria barbata D.Don., used for the treatment of boils and sore, cirrhosis of the liver with ascites, and snake- and insect bite. It is commonly known as Barbed Skullcap Herb, Herb of Barbed Skullcap, Bàn Zhī Lián.

 Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Herba Scutellariae Barbatae (Barbated Skullcap Herb) as the dried entire plant of (1).Scutellaria barbata D.Don. It is a plant of the Scutellaria Linn. Genus, Labiatae family (Lamiaceae, mint family), Lamiales order. This commonly used species is introduced:

(1).Scutellaria barbata D.Don.


 flowering plants of Scutellaria barbata D.Don. with lilac flowers Botanical description: Scutellaria barbata D.Don is also known as Scutellaria rivularis Wall., it is commonly known as Bàn Zhī Lián. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 15~50 cm tall. The stem is four-prismatic, glabrous or is covered with sparsely appressed small hairs on the upper part of the rhachis (inflorescence axis), unbranched, or has more or fewer branches. Leaves are opposite; petioles are 1~3 mm long; leaf blades are oval (egg-shaped), triangular-ovate or lanceolate, 1~3 cm long, 0.4~1.5 cm wide, the apex is sharp-pointed or slightly obtuse, the base is broadly cuneate or subtruncate, the margin is sparsely shallow crenate, the upper surface is olive green, the undersurface is purplish, both surfaces are sparsely covered with appressed short hairs along veins or glabrate, lateral veins are in 2–3 pairs, protuberant with midvein on the undersurface.

 Flowers are opposite, deviate to one side, arrange in terminal or axillary racemes, 4~10 cm long; involucral bracts on the lower part are foliate (leaf-like), smaller, bracts on the upper part gradually turning smaller, entire; pedicels are 1~2 mm long, puberulent, 1 pair of acicular bracteoles with length about 0.5 mm grow in the middle; calyx is 2~2.5 mm long, up to 4 mm in fruit phase, outside are puberulent along veins, lobes have short marginal seta (tricholoma), scutellum is about 1 mm high, about 2 mm high in fruit phase. Corolla is royal purple (bluish violet), 1~1.4 cm long, outside is pubescent, the base of the corolla tube is saccate (pouchlike) and enlarged, 1.5 mm wide, gradually widened upward, up to 3.5 mm at the throat part, the upper lip is cassideous, about 2 mm long, the lower lip is wider, the middle lobe is trapezoid, about 3 mm long, lateral lobes are triangular-ovate. 4 stamens, the front pair stamens are longer, with fertile half-anthers, degenerative half-anthers are inconspicuous, the anterior pair stamens are shorter, with a complete anther, the lower part of filaments is sparsely pubescent; the floral disc is discoid (disk-shaped), anterior part is raised, posterior part extends into a short ovary stalk; ovary is 4-lobed, style is thin and long.

 Nutlets are brown, oblate, about 1 mm in diameter, with small verrucous protrusions. Its flowering period is from May to October, and the fruiting period is from June to November.

 flowering plants of Scutellaria barbata D.Don. grow in sunny days with lilac flowers and green leaves Ecological environment: The plant grows on stream sides, field sides, or humid grassland. Resource distribution: The plant is mainly distributed in the eastern and southern areas, the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, the northern area, and the Hanjiang river area, China.

 Growth characteristics: The plant Scutellaria barbata prefers a warm and humid climate, it is appropriate to choose loose and fertile, loam or sandy loam with good drainage for cultivation.

 dried herb segments of Barbated Skullcap Herb Characters of herbs: The whole herb is 15~30 cm long. The roots are slender and thin. The stem is prismatic, 2~5 mm in diameter, the surface is yellowish-green to dark purple. The leaves are opposite, shriveled or curled, and after flattening, the leaves are ovate-lanceolate, 1.5~3 cm long, and 0.5~1 cm wide, sparsely pilose, the upper surface is dark green and the undersurface is celadon (sage green or grayish green); petioles are short or subsessile. The top of the branch has a lateral raceme, with a persistent calyx, sometimes contain four nutlets inside. The stem is soft and easily broken. The herb has a slight odor, and it tastes bitter and puckery. The herb of a better grade is green and tastes bitter.

 Pharmacological actions: ①.mild inhibitory effect on acute myeloid leukemia blood cells; ②.diuretic effect; ③.inhibitory effects on staphylococcus aureus, Shigeila flexneri, typhoid bacillus, escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro.

 Medicinal efficacy: Clear heat, detoxify, dissipate blood stasis, stanch bleeding, relieve pain, diuretic, detumescence (reduce swelling). It is indicated for hematemesis, epistaxis, bloody stranguria, red dysentery, jaundice, sore throat, pyretic toxic carbuncle and swelling, pulmonary abscess, acute appendicitis, furuncle and ulcer, scrofula, sore poison, edema, ascites and cancer, traumatic injury of knife wounds, traumatic injury of fall, snake bites, venomous snake bite, etc.

 Administration of Herba Scutellariae Barbatae (Bàn Zhī Lián): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Herba Scutellariae Barbatae (Bàn Zhī Lián)
TCM Books: ①.Internally:water decoction, 0.5~1 liang (about 15~30 grams), fresh herb 1~2 liang (about 30~60 grams), or extract juice. Externally:mashed and apply stick; ②.Internally:water decoction, 15~30 grams, double dosage for fresh herb, or prepared to pill, powder. Externally:proper amount, fresh herb is mashed and apply stick.
 Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions:herb Herba Scutelloariae Barbatae should be used cautiously during pregnancy.

 

 
  

 

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References:
  • 1.Introduction of Ban Zhi Lian:Barbated Skullcap Herb or Herba Scutellariae Barbatae.

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