Introduction of Chuan Shan Long:Chuanlong Yam or Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae.
✵The article gives records of the herb Chuanlong Yam, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Dioscorea nipponica Makino., and another usable plant species, ②.Dioscorea nipponica Makino subsp.rosthornii(Prain et Burkill)C.T.Ting., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these two plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these two plant species, the features of the herb Chuanlong Yam, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae(Chuan Di Long).
Pin Yin Name: Chuān Dì Lónɡ,or Chuān Shān Lónɡ.
English Name: Chuanlong Yam.
Latin Name: Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae.
Property and flavor: neutral in nature, bitter.
Brief introduction: The herb Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae is the dried rhizome of Dioscorea nipponica Makino, used to dispel wind-damp, activate blood circulation, unblock collateral meridians and resolve phlegm in the treatment of rheumatalgia, sprain, traumatic pains, and chronic cough with expectoration. The herb is commonly known as Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae, Chuān Dì Lónɡ.
Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae (Chuan Di Long) as the dried rhizome of (1). Dioscorea nipponica Makino. Other famous herbal classics defined the herb Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae (Chuan Di Long) as the dried rhizome of (1). Dioscorea nipponica Makino., (2). Dioscorea nipponica Makino subsp.rosthornii (Prain et Burkill) C.T.Ting. They are plants of the Dioscorea genus, Dioscoreaceae family (yam family), Liliflorae order. These 2 commonly used species are introduced:
(1).Dioscorea nipponica Makino.
Botanical description: Dioscorea nipponica Makino is commonly known as Chuān Lóng Shǔ Yǔ. A perennial twining vine, the plant grows up to 5 meters long. Rhizomes are amphitropous, cylindrical, ligneous (woody), and many-branched, the cork bark layer is markedly stripped off. The stem is sinistral, cylindrical, and glabrate. Single leaves are alternate; petioles are 10~20 cm long; leaf blades are palmate-cordate, vary greatly, basal leaves on stems are 10~15 cm long, 9~13 cm wide, margin is unequal triangular lobed, moderately lobed or deeply parted, leaf blades on the front end are small, subentire, leaf surface is yellowish-green, glossy, glabrous or sparsely white fine pilose, especially dense on veins.
Flowers are unisexual and dioecious. The male inflorescence is an axillary spike, and the base of the inflorescence is usually umbellules integrated by 2~4 flowers, and the top of the inflorescence is usually a single flower. Bracts are lanceolate, the apex is acuminate, shorter than the perianth; perianth is phialiform (disc shape), 6-lobed, the apex of the lobes is obtuse; 6 stamens, insert in the center of the perianth lobe, anthers are introrse. The female inflorescence is spicate, solitary; the perianth is 6-lobed, lobes are lanceolate; the stigma of the pistil is trifurcate, lobes are bifurcated again.
Capsularfruit is dull yellow at maturity, prismatic, the apex is concave, the base is orbicular, and each ridge is aliform (winglike), varying in size, generally about 2 cm long, and 1.5 cm wide. Each cell has 2 seeds, sometimes only one seed is fertile, inverted at the base of the shaft, unequal membranous wings grow around, the upper part is rectangular, and length is about 2 times of the width. Its flowering period is from June to August, and the fruiting period is from August to October.
Ecological environment: The plant grows on hillsides and mountain slopes, forest edges, both sides of the stream valley, and bushes, in areas at altitudes of 300~2,000 meters above sea level. It is distributed in the northern and northwest areas (except Xinjiang), the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and other areas of China.
Growth characteristics: The plant Dioscorea nipponica has a wide adaptive capacity and can grow at 8~35 °C (Celsius, or 46.4~95 degrees Fahrenheit), but the best temperature for its growth is 15~25 °C (Celsius, or 59~77 degrees Fahrenheit). It is tolerant to drought, and plants need light from the late seedling stage to mature age. It is suitable to choose loose and fertile sandy loam for cultivation. Loam and clay loam can also be chosen for planting.
Characters of herbs: The rhizome is cylindrical-like, slightly curved, and branched, 10~15 cm long, and 0.3~1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-white or brownish yellow and has irregular longitudinal grooves, punctate root marks, and protruding stem marks on one side, occasionally has membranous light brown cortex and fine roots. The texture of the herb is hard, the fracture surface is flat, white or yellowish-white, scattered with light brown vascular bundles. The herb has a slight odor, and it tastes bitter and puckery.
Pharmacological actions: ①.antitussive, expectorant, antiasthmatic, anti-hypoxia, inhibit platelet agglutination, diuretic, antibacterial, antiviral and other functions; ②.water decoction inhibit cellular immunity and humoral immunity and enhance the phagocytic function of phagocytes; ③.significantly reduce cholesterol level and blood pressure, delay heart rate, and improve coronary circulation.
Medicinal efficacy: Activate blood circulation and free tendons, promoting blood circulation to remove the meridian obstruction, help digestion and alleviate water retention, dispelling wind and eliminate dampness, removing phlegm, preventing attack or recurrence of malaria, relieve cough. It is indicated for the treatment of wind-cold-dampness arthralgia(anemofrigid-damp arthralgia), numbness of limbs, chronic tracheitis, thoracic obstruction and cardiodynia (heartache), dyspepsia (indigestion), traumatic injury from fall, malaria, carbuncle swelling, etc.
Administration of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae (Chuān Dì Lónɡ):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae (Chuān Dì Lónɡ)
TCM Books:
①.Internally:water decoction, 0.5~1 liang (about 15~30 grams),fresh herb 1~2 liang (about 30~60 grams),or infusing in wine.Externally:mashed the fresh herb and apply stick; ②.Internally:water decoction, dry herb 6~9 grams,fresh herb 30~45 grams,or infusing in wine.Externally:proper amount,mashed the fresh herb and apply stick.
(2).Dioscorea nipponica Makino subsp.rosthornii(Prain et Burkill)C.T.Ting.
Botanical description: The plant, Dioscorea nipponica Makino subsp.rosthornii (Prain et Burkill) C.T.Ting is commonly known as Chái Huáng Jiāng, and it is a subspecies of Dioscorea nipponica Makino. The main differences between this subspecies and Dioscorea nipponica Makino are: the plant is thick and strong, the rhizome has no stripped cork, the flowers more or less have pedicels, and leaf blades have more seta. Its flowering period is from June to August, and the fruiting period is from August to October.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in the bushes of valleys, sparse shaw (miscellaneous wood forests), and forest edges in areas at altitudes of 1,000~1,800 meters above sea level. It is distributed in the southern areas of Qinling mountain, the southern region of Gansu, the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, southwest, and other areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The rhizome is similar to the rhizome of Dioscorea nipponica Makino, except that the rhizome is thicker, the surface is smoother, and there is no deciduous cork bark.
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1.Introduction of Chuan Shan Long:Chuanlong Yam or Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae.
✵The article gives records of the herb Chuanlong Yam, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Dioscorea nipponica Makino., and another usable plant species, ②.Dioscorea nipponica Makino subsp.rosthornii(Prain et Burkill)C.T.Ting., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these two plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these two plant species, the features of the herb Chuanlong Yam, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Chuān Dì Lónɡ,or Chuān Shān Lónɡ.
Botanical description: Dioscorea nipponica Makino is commonly known as Chuān Lóng Shǔ Yǔ. A perennial twining vine, the plant grows up to 5 meters long. Rhizomes are amphitropous, cylindrical, ligneous (woody), and many-branched, the cork bark layer is markedly stripped off. The stem is sinistral, cylindrical, and glabrate. Single leaves are alternate; petioles are 10~20 cm long; leaf blades are palmate-cordate, vary greatly, basal leaves on stems are 10~15 cm long, 9~13 cm wide, margin is unequal triangular lobed, moderately lobed or deeply parted, leaf blades on the front end are small, subentire, leaf surface is yellowish-green, glossy, glabrous or sparsely white fine pilose, especially dense on veins.
Flowers are unisexual and dioecious. The male inflorescence is an axillary spike, and the base of the inflorescence is usually umbellules integrated by 2~4 flowers, and the top of the inflorescence is usually a single flower. Bracts are lanceolate, the apex is acuminate, shorter than the perianth; perianth is phialiform (disc shape), 6-lobed, the apex of the lobes is obtuse; 6 stamens, insert in the center of the perianth lobe, anthers are introrse. The female inflorescence is spicate, solitary; the perianth is 6-lobed, lobes are lanceolate; the stigma of the pistil is trifurcate, lobes are bifurcated again.
Ecological environment: The plant grows on hillsides and mountain slopes, forest edges, both sides of the stream valley, and bushes, in areas at altitudes of 300~2,000 meters above sea level. It is distributed in the northern and northwest areas (except Xinjiang), the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and other areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The rhizome is cylindrical-like, slightly curved, and branched, 10~15 cm long, and 0.3~1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-white or brownish yellow and has irregular longitudinal grooves, punctate root marks, and protruding stem marks on one side, occasionally has membranous light brown cortex and fine roots. The texture of the herb is hard, the fracture surface is flat, white or yellowish-white, scattered with light brown vascular bundles. The herb has a slight odor, and it tastes bitter and puckery.
Botanical description: The plant, Dioscorea nipponica Makino subsp.rosthornii (Prain et Burkill) C.T.Ting is commonly known as Chái Huáng Jiāng, and it is a subspecies of Dioscorea nipponica Makino. The main differences between this subspecies and Dioscorea nipponica Makino are: the plant is thick and strong, the rhizome has no stripped cork, the flowers more or less have pedicels, and leaf blades have more seta. Its flowering period is from June to August, and the fruiting period is from August to October.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in the bushes of valleys, sparse shaw (miscellaneous wood forests), and forest edges in areas at altitudes of 1,000~1,800 meters above sea level. It is distributed in the southern areas of Qinling mountain, the southern region of Gansu, the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, southwest, and other areas of China.
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