Introduction of Bai Bian Dou:White Hyacinth Bean or Semen Lablab Album.

TCM Herbalism:Medicinals and Classifications. ✵The article gives records of the herb White Hyacinth Bean, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Dolichos lablab L., 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 White Hyacinth Bean, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Semen Lablab Album(White Hyacinth Bean).

many yellowish dried herb beans of Semen Lablab Album Pin Yin Name: Bái Biǎn Dòu.
 English Name: White Hyacinth Bean.
 Latin Name: Semen Lablab Album.
 Property and flavor: slightly warm in nature, tastes sweet.

 Brief introduction: The herb Semen Lablab Album is the dried ripe seed of Dolichos lablab L., used to strengthen the spleen and resolve dampness for the treatment of (1).weakness of the spleen and stomach with anorexia, loose stools, and leukorrhagia, and (2).vomiting and diarrhea due to summer dampness. The herb is commonly known as Semen Lablab Album, White Hyacinth Bean, Bái Biǎn Dòu.

 Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Semen Lablab Album (White Hyacinth Bean) as the dried ripe seed of the species (1). Dolichos lablab L. It is a plant of the Lablab genus, the Fabaceae family (Leguminosae, Papilionaceae, legume, pea family) of the Rosales order. This commonly used species is introduced:

(1).Dolichos lablab L.


 plants of Dolichos lablab L with green pods and leaves Botanical description: The plant, Dolichos lablab L is commonly known as Biǎn Dòu. A perennial herb, twisted herbal liana, length is up to 6 meters. The entire plant is glabrous or sparsely pubescent, the stem is mauve (lilac) or pea green (pale green). Trifoliolate compound leaves; petioles are 4-14 cm long; Stipules (peraphyllum) are lanceolate or triangular-oval, covered with white pubescence; apical petiolules are 1.5-3.5 cm long, ambilateral petiolules are short, 2-3 mm long, all covered with white pubescence; apical lobules (leaflets) are broadly triangular-ovate, 5-10 cm long, width is equal as length, the apex is pointed, the base is broadly cuneate or truncated, entire, both surfaces are covered with pubescence, more pubescence along leaf veins, basal 3 main veins, lateral veins are pinnate; lateral lobules are obliquely ovate, both sides are unequal.

 plants of Dolichos lablab L with green pods and pink flowers grow in field Racemes are axillary, 15~25 cm long, upright, inflorescence axis is stout; 2–4 flowers or many flowers grow in tufts and on the nodes of inflorescence axis, bracteoles (bractlets) are liguliform (ligulate), 2 bracteoles, caducus; the calyx is broadly campanulate, the apex is 5-teeth, upper 2 teeth almost completely connate, other 3 teeth are nearly equal length, the margin is densely covered with white pubescence; corolla is papilionaceous (butterfly shape), white or mauve (lilac), about 2 cm long, vexilla (vexil) is broadly elliptical, the apex is slightly emarginated inward, alae (winged stem) is obliquely elliptic, one side near the base part has an auriform protrusion, keel pelals (tropis) is scaphoid (boat-shaped), curved or nearly right angle (orthogonal); 10 stamens, 1 stamen is separate, filaments of other 9 stamens partially connate and is tubiform (tubular), and wrapped stamenl the ovary is linear, has silky fluff, the base has glands, the apex of style has white beard hair, style is capitate.

 fruiting plants of Dolichos lablab L with reddish brown pods grow in sunny field Legumes (pods) are sickle-shaped or obovate-oblong-oval, flat, 5~8 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, the apex is wide, the tip has one recurved rostrum (beak), and the edge is coarse. 2–5 seeds, oblate elliptic, white, russet (reddish-brown), or pullous (nearly atramentous), 8-13 mm long, 6-9 mm wide, 4-7 mm thick, hilum and raphe are long and protuberant, the edge of one side has protuberant white semi-lune (half-moon shape) strophiole. Its flowering period is from June to August, the fruiting period is in September.

 Ecological Environment: The plant is cultivated all over the country. They are cultivated more in the south of the Yangtze River. It is suitable for garden cultivation or sporadic cultivation.

 Growth characteristics: The plant, Dolichos lablab L. prefers a warm and moist climate, afraid of frost, frost damage affects its growth, which might lead to plant death. The suitable germination temperature of seeds is 22~23 °C (Celsius, or 71.6~73.4 degrees Fahrenheit), and the plants can withstand the high temperature of around 35 °C (Celsius, or 95 degrees Fahrenheit). In the seedling stage, it needs moisture and should pay attention to watering. In the flowering period the plant requires drought, high humidity of air and soil easily leads to dropping of blossoms. They like to grow on fertile sandy loam with good drainage.

 many light yellowish herbs of white Hyacinth Bean are piled together Characters of herbs: Seeds are oblate elliptic or flat oval, 0.8~1.3 cm long, 6~9 mm wide, and about 7 mm thick. The surface is yellowish-white or yellowish, smooth, and slightly glossy, some of them have visible tan (chocolate brown) spots, and the edge on one side has a protuberant white semi-lune strophiole. The strophiole is 7~10 mm long. After it is peeled off, the concave hilum is visible. The end which is near the strophiole has a micropyle, the other end has a raphe. The texture of the seed is firm and hard, the seed coat is thin and crisp, 2 cotyledons, hypertrophic, yellowish-white. The herb has a slight odor, tastes mild, and has a beany flavor when it is chewed. The herb of a better grade has big, full, and white grains.

 Pharmacological actions: ①.anti-trypsin activity; ②.water decoction has antibacterial, antiviral effect, has the inhibitory effect to dysentery bacillus; ③.detoxification effect to the food poisoning and vomiting, acute gastroenteritis and so on; ④.enhance the activity of T lymphocyte; ⑤.improve the immune function of the cell.

 Medicinal efficacy: Invigorate the spleen, resolving dampness, regulating the middle energizer, relieve summer heat. It is indicated for weakness of spleen and stomach, anorexia or inappetence, insufficiency of the spleen resulting in production of dampness, loose stool and diarrhea, poor appetite and loose stool, leukorrhagia, summer-heat and damp vomiting and diarrhea, chest tightness and abdominal distension, polydipsia and chest tightness. The fried herb invigorating spleen for eliminating dampnes, it is indicated for splenasthenic diarrhea, leukorrhagia, etc.  

 Administration of Semen Lablab Album (Bái Biǎn Dòu): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Semen Lablab Album (Bái Biǎn Dòu)
TCM Books: ①.Internally: 9~15 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 10~15 grams; or fresh herb extract juice with water; or prepare to pill, powder. Externally:proper amount, mashed and apply stick.

 

 
  

 

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References:
  • 1.Introduction of Bai Bian Dou:White Hyacinth Bean or Semen Lablab Album.

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