Introduction of Lou Lu: Uniflower Swisscentaury Root
✵This article documents Uniflower Swisscentaury Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC. and (2) Echinops latifolius Tausch.—along with detailed descriptions of their botanical features, growth characteristics, ecological environments, macroscopic and microscopic features of the herb, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Radix Rhapontici (Uniflower Swisscentaury Root)
Pinyin Name: Lòu Lú
English Name: Uniflower Swisscentaury Root
Latin Name:Radix Rhapontici Properties and Flavor: Cold, bitter
Brief Introduction:Radix Rhapontici is the dried root of Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC., used (1) to clear heat and counteract toxins in mastitis and (2) to promote lactation in cases of galactostasis. It is commonly known as Radix Rhapontici, Uniflower Swisscentaury Root, Root of Broadleaf Globethistle, or Lou Lu.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Radix Rhapontici (Uniflower Swisscentaury Root) as the dried root of (1) Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC. or (2) Echinops latifolius Tausch. These belong to the genus Stemmacantha, family Asteraceae (Compositae, daisy family), order Asterales. The two commonly used species are described below:
(1) Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC.
Botanical Description:Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC. is also known as Stemmacantha uniflorum (L.) Dittrich or Cnicus uniflorus L. It is commonly known as Qi Zhou Lou Lu or Da Hua Ji. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 30–100 cm tall. The rhizome is thick and stout; taproots are cylindrical, 1–2 cm in diameter, and the upper part is densely covered with residual petioles. The stem is upright, unbranched, tufted or solitary, striate, and covered with white woolly hairs or short hairs. Basal leaves have long petioles (6–20 cm), which are thickly woolly; basal leaves and lower cauline leaves are elliptic, 12–25 cm long and 5–10 cm wide, pinnatisect and lyriform, with lobes often pinnately divided or incised; both surfaces are covered with arachnoid hairs or rough trichomes. Leaves of the middle and upper stem are smaller, short-stipulate or sessile.
Capitulum (flower head): solitary, terminal on stems, about 5 cm in diameter; involucre is broadly campanulate (broadly bell-shaped), base is concave; involucral bracts are arranged in several series, with a dry, membranous appendage; outer bracts are short and ovate; middle bracts with broad, palmately lobed appendages; inner bracts are lanceolate with acute apices; corolla is mauve (lilac), ~2.5 cm long, lower portion linear, upper portion is slightly expanded into a cylindrical shape, apex 5-lobed; stamens 5, anthers are fused; ovary is inferior, style is exserted, stigma is 2-lobed and purple.
Achenes are obconical, 5–6 mm long, tan (chocolate brown), 4-angled; pappus is setiform, bearing plumose short hairs. Flowering period: May–July; fruiting period: June–August.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on hilly slopes and under pine or birch forests, at altitudes of 390–2,700 m above sea level.
Characteristics of the Herb: Roots are obconical-cylindrical, some slightly twisted or flattened; usually unbranched; intact specimens measure 10–30 cm in length and 1–2.5 cm in diameter. Surface is dark brown to blackish brown, coarse and rough, with irregular longitudinal grooves and rhombic reticulate fissures; cortex often exhibits exfoliating cracks. Root head is enlarged, bearing a few stem bases and scale-like leaf bases; grayish-white tomentum present at the apex. Texture is light and brittle, easily fractured; upon breaking, cortex frequently separates from xylem. Cortex is dark-colored; xylem is yellowish-white, arranged radially; wood rays are mostly fragmented; central xylem often exhibits a stellate fissure due to decay, dark brown. Odor is distinctive; taste slightly bitter.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) anti-atherosclerotic effect; (2) antioxidant activity; (3) inhibition of tissue lipid peroxidation; (4) inhibition of type B monoamine oxidase activity in rats; (5) immunomodulatory effects in animals, etc.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears heat and detoxifies, resolves carbuncles and abscesses, promotes lactation, relaxes tendons and invigorates blood circulation, activates blood and promotes lactation. Indicated for acute mastitis with swelling and pain; carbuncles and boils with swelling and pain; carbuncular abscesses; scrofula; tuberculous lymphadenitis; mammary duct obstruction; rheumatic bi syndrome; hemorrhoids complicated by anal fistula; prurigo scabies; red, swollen, and painful eyes; dysentery; ascariasis-induced abdominal pain; rheumatic arthralgia; lumbar sprain; chest pain; traumatic injury from falls; and postpartum lactation failure.
Administration of Radix Rhapontici (Lòu Lú):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Radix Rhapontici (Lòu Lú)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 5–9 grams; (2) Internally: water decoction, 1.5–3 qián (~4.5–9 grams); fresh herb, 1–2 liǎng (~30–60 g); or prepared as pills or powder. External use: wash affected area with decoction, or apply powdered herb as a poultice. (3) Internally: water decoction, 9–15 grams. External use: appropriate amount—prepare finely ground herb powder and apply as a vinegar-based poultice, or mash fresh herb and apply topically.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Radix Rhapontici should be used with caution during pregnancy and is contraindicated in cases of Qi deficiency, ulcerative conditions, and pregnancy.
(2) Echinops latifolius Tausch.
Botanical Description:Echinops latifolius Tausch. is commonly known as Yu Zhou Lou Lu or Huo Rong Cao. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to approximately 1 m in height. The stem is erect, unbranched or sparsely branched, densely covered with white woolly hairs on the upper portion, and sparsely covered with arachnoid hairs on the lower portion. Leaves are bipinnatifid or pinnately parted; the upper surface is sparsely covered with arachnoid hairs or glabrous, while the lower surface is densely covered with white woolly hairs; leaf margins bear short spines. Basal leaves have long petioles; leaf blades are obovate-oblong to nearly circular, ~20 cm long. Upper stem leaves gradually decrease in size, becoming oblong-ovate to ovate (~10–20 cm long), with amplexicaul bases.
Compound capitulum: spherical or subglobose, ~4 cm in diameter; individual capitula (flower heads) are ~2 cm long. Outer involucral bracts are setiform (bristly), basally connate; outer bracts of the inner involucre are spatulate with acuminate apices and castor-like ciliate margins; inner bracts are narrowly rhombic to obovate-oblong, with acute apices and ciliate margins above the middle. Corolla is tubular, 5-lobed, linear, pale blue; corolla tube is white. Stamens 5; anthers are fused. Ovary inverted campanulate (inverted bell-shaped), tomentose; stigma is 2-lobed.
Achenes are cylindrical, densely covered with tawny (yellowish-brown) pilose hairs; pappus is ~1 mm long, basally connate. Flowering period: July–September; fruiting period: October.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on forest margins, dry hillsides, and mountain slopes, in sunny grasslands.
Characteristics of the Herb: Roots are subcylindrical, slightly twisted, variable in length, and 0.5–1.5 cm in diameter. Surface is khaki to taupe brown (grayish brown), rough and longitudinally wrinkled, bearing fibrous, brown, bristle-like structures at the apex—residual vascular bundles of petioles. Texture is firm; fracture surface is coarse and fibrous; cortex is brown; xylem displays yellow-and-black chrysanthemum-like patterns. Odor is slight; taste is slightly astringent.
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References:
1.Introduction of Lou Lu: Uniflower Swisscentaury Root
✵This article documents Uniflower Swisscentaury Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC. and (2) Echinops latifolius Tausch.—along with detailed descriptions of their botanical features, growth characteristics, ecological environments, macroscopic and microscopic features of the herb, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Lòu Lú
Botanical Description: Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC. is also known as Stemmacantha uniflorum (L.) Dittrich or Cnicus uniflorus L. It is commonly known as Qi Zhou Lou Lu or Da Hua Ji. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 30–100 cm tall. The rhizome is thick and stout; taproots are cylindrical, 1–2 cm in diameter, and the upper part is densely covered with residual petioles. The stem is upright, unbranched, tufted or solitary, striate, and covered with white woolly hairs or short hairs. Basal leaves have long petioles (6–20 cm), which are thickly woolly; basal leaves and lower cauline leaves are elliptic, 12–25 cm long and 5–10 cm wide, pinnatisect and lyriform, with lobes often pinnately divided or incised; both surfaces are covered with arachnoid hairs or rough trichomes. Leaves of the middle and upper stem are smaller, short-stipulate or sessile.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on hilly slopes and under pine or birch forests, at altitudes of 390–2,700 m above sea level.
Characteristics of the Herb: Roots are obconical-cylindrical, some slightly twisted or flattened; usually unbranched; intact specimens measure 10–30 cm in length and 1–2.5 cm in diameter. Surface is dark brown to blackish brown, coarse and rough, with irregular longitudinal grooves and rhombic reticulate fissures; cortex often exhibits exfoliating cracks. Root head is enlarged, bearing a few stem bases and scale-like leaf bases; grayish-white tomentum present at the apex. Texture is light and brittle, easily fractured; upon breaking, cortex frequently separates from xylem. Cortex is dark-colored; xylem is yellowish-white, arranged radially; wood rays are mostly fragmented; central xylem often exhibits a stellate fissure due to decay, dark brown. Odor is distinctive; taste slightly bitter.
Botanical Description: Echinops latifolius Tausch. is commonly known as Yu Zhou Lou Lu or Huo Rong Cao. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to approximately 1 m in height. The stem is erect, unbranched or sparsely branched, densely covered with white woolly hairs on the upper portion, and sparsely covered with arachnoid hairs on the lower portion. Leaves are bipinnatifid or pinnately parted; the upper surface is sparsely covered with arachnoid hairs or glabrous, while the lower surface is densely covered with white woolly hairs; leaf margins bear short spines. Basal leaves have long petioles; leaf blades are obovate-oblong to nearly circular, ~20 cm long. Upper stem leaves gradually decrease in size, becoming oblong-ovate to ovate (~10–20 cm long), with amplexicaul bases.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on forest margins, dry hillsides, and mountain slopes, in sunny grasslands.
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