Introduction of Ze Lan:Bugleweed Herb or Herba Lycopi.
✵The article gives records of the herb Bugleweed Herb, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its herbal classic book defined botanical source one plant species, ①.Lycopus lucidus Turcz. var. hirtus Regel., and another usable plant species, ②.Lycopus lucidus Turcz., 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 Bugleweed Herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Herba Lycopi(Bugleweed Herb).
Pin Yin Name: Zé Lán.
English Name: Bugleweed Herb.
Latin Name: Herba Lycopi.
Property and flavor: slightly warm, pungent, bitter.
Brief introduction: The herb Herba Lycopi is the dried aerial part of Lycopus lucidus Turcz.var.hirtus Regel, used (1).to activate the blood, remove stasis and regulate menstruation for the treatment of irregular menstruation and postpartum abdominal pain, (2).to reduce swelling for treating traumatic injuries, boils, and sores, and (3).to induce diuresis for treating edema and ascites. The herb is commonly known as Herba Lycopi, Bugleweed Herb, Hiraute Shiny Bugleweek Herb, Herb of Hirsute Shiny Bugleweed, Zé Lán.
Botanical source: The official herbal classics defined the herb Herba Lycopi (Bugleweed Herb) as the dried aerial part of the species (1). Lycopus lucidus Turcz. var. hirtus Regel.. Other famous herbal classics defined the herb Herba Lycopi (Bugleweed Herb) as the dried aerial part of the species (1). Lycopus lucidus Turcz. var. hirtus Regel., or (2). Lycopus lucidus Turcz. They are plants of the Lycopus Linn. genus, the Lamiaceae family (Labiatae, mint family) of the Tubiflorae order. This 1 herbal classic book defined species and another usable species are introduced:
(2).Lycopus lucidus Turcz.
Botanical description: The plant, Lycopus lucidus Turcz is commonly known as Dì Guā ér Miáo (means sweet potato seedling) or Dì Sǔn (means earth bamboo shootings). A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 0.6–1.7 meters high; The rhizome is cylindrical and amphitropous underground, with nodes, there are lodicules, and dense fibrous roots on nodes. Stems are upright, usually unbranched, prismatic, grooved, and green, nodes are mostly prunus (violet-red), glabrous, or penicilium on nodes.
Leaves are decussate, have very short petioles, or are sessile; cauline leaves on the lower part of the stem are mostly deciduous, cauline leaves on the upper part are elliptic, narrow oblong, or lanceolate, 4~10 cm long, 1.2~2.5 cm wide, or up to 1.5~4 cm wide; apex is acuminate, base is attenuated and cuneate (wedge-shaped), margin is irregularly sharply serrate, the upper surface is sap green (dark green), glabrous, slightly glossy; the under surface has sunken glandular points, glabrous, or there is sparse white pubescence growing along leaf veins.
Verticillasters are multiflorous (pluriflorous), auxillary; bracteoles are ovate-lanceolate, apex has thorn tip, shorter than calyx or nearly equal length, pubescent; calyx is campaniform (bell-shaped), about 4 mm long, both surfaces are glabrous, 4~6-lobed, lobes are narrowly triangular, apex is spiny shape; corolla is campaniform (bell-shaped) and white, 4.5-5 mm long, outside is glabrous, has yellow shiny glandular points, the upper lip and lower lip are nearly equal length, the apex of upper lip is emarginated (slightly concave), the lower lip is 3-lobed, central lobe is bigger, orbicular, ambilateral lobes are slightly shorter and small; the front pair has 2 fertile stamens, stretch beyond the corolla, anther cell is diverging, back a pair of stamens are staminodes, only filaments are remaining or sometimes all disappear, sometimes four stamens are all degenerated, only has filaments and anther residual marks; ovary is oblong, deeply 4-parted, inserted on floral disc, style stretches beyond corolla, glabrous, stigma is unequally 2-lobed, flat.
Nutlets are flat, obovate-trigonous, the base is slightly narrow, 1-1.5 mm long, 1.2 mm wide, brown to darkish brown (dust-color); its margin is thickened, abaxially flat; and the ventral surface is ribbed, glandular. Its flowering period is from June to September, and the fruiting period is from August to October or November.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in areas at altitudes below 2,100 meters above sea level, in marshes, hills and low-lying land, waterside, and other wet places. The plant is distributed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, northern and west-northern areas, the Zhujiang river area, southwest area, and Taiwan of China.
Growth characteristics: The plant Lycopus lucidus prefers a warm and moist climate. It thrives in June and July, the rainy season with high temperatures. It is resistant to cold, not afraid of waterlogging, likes fertilizer, and thrives in fertile soil areas. Likewise, it is appropriate to choose a sunny field with deep soil layers, humus-rich loam, or sandy loam for cultivation. It is not appropriate to choose a dry and barren field without irrigation conditions.
Characters of herbs: The stems are square column-shaped, with shallow longitudinal grooves on four sides, 50–100 cm long, and 2~5 mm in diameter, the surface is yellow-green or slightly purplish, nodes are conspicuous, and the internode lengths are 2–11 cm; The texture of the herb is crisp, easily broken, the pith is hollow. Leaves are opposite, mostly wizzled, lanceolate, or oblong after flattening, edges are serrated, the upper surface is black green (dark green), the under surface is celadon(grayish green), and it has brown glandular spots. Flowers are tufty in the axils of leaves, rotate, the corolla mostly falls off, and the bracts and calyx are persistent. The herb has a slight odor and a mild taste. The herb of a better grade is tender, foliose (leafy), and green.
Pharmacological actions: ①.improve the microcirculatory disturbance of experimental animals, expand the diameter of microvessels and accelerate the flow velocity of microvessels; ②.cardiac stimulant effect.
Medicinal efficacy: Activate blood circulation, regulates menstruation, remove blood stasis, eliminate carbuncle, alleviate water retention, detumescence (reduce swelling), detoxification. It is indicated for irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea (abdominal pain after menstruation), postpartum abdominal pain of blood stasis, abdominal mass and edema, dropsy, falling injury, incised (metal-inflicted) wound, sore carbuncle swelling poison, edema and ascites (abdominal dropsy).
Administration of Herba Lycopi (Zé Lán):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Herba Lycopi (Zé Lán)
TCM Books:
①.Internally: 6~12 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 1.5~3 qian (about 4.5~9 grams), or prepare to pill, powder. Externally:mashed the herb and apply stick, or fumigation wash with water decoction; ③.Internally:water decoction, 6~12 grams, or prepared to pill, powder. Externally:proper amount, mash the fresh herb and apply stick;or fumigation wash with water decoction.
Contraindications,Precautions and Adverse Reactions:the herb Herba Lycopi should be used cautiously in condition no blood stasis.
(1).Lycopus lucidus Turcz. var. hirtus Regel.
Botanical description: The plant, Lycopus lucidus Turcz. var. hirtus Regel is commonly known as Máo Yè Dì Guā ér Miáo (means hairy-leaf sweet potato seedling), or Máo Yè Dì Sǔn (means hairy-leaf earth bamboo shootings). It is a varietas of the Lycopus lucidus Turcz. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 40~100 cm tall. The underground rhizome is amphitropous, slightly thickened, and white. Stem is upright, square, with four edges and corners, hollow, the upper surface is green, prunus (violet-red) purplish-red or purplish green (violet-blue), smooth and glabrous, with only tufts of hair on nodes, leaves are decussate; Lanceolate, narrowly lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, 4.5~11 cm long, 8~35 mm wide, the apex is long pointed, the base is cuneate, the margin is coarsely serrate, sometimes serrate between teeth; subcoriaceous (more or less coriaceous), slightly glossy above, glabrous, densely glandular below, glabrous or has sparsely white pilose on veins; Petiole is short or subsessile (nearly sessile).
Verticillasters are axillary; flowers are small, multiflorous (polyanthous); bracts are lanceolate, the margin is piliferous; the calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped), about 4 mm long, the apex is 5-lobed; lobes are narrowly lanceolate; the apex is long pointed; the corolla is white, campaniform (bell-shaped), slightly exposed to the calyx, 4.5~5 mm long, glandular at the outside; the upper lip is upright; the lower lip is 3-lobed; lobes are nearly equal length; 2 fertile stamens; the ovary is rectangular, 4-lobed, inserted on floral disc, stigma is 2-lobed, protruding.
Nutlets are flat, about 1 mm long, and dark brown. Its flowering period is from July to September, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in swamps, water, and other wet places. It is mainly distributed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, northwest, and other areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The stems, nodes, and leaf surfaces are densely covered with hirsute, and the other features are similar to those of Lycopus lucidus Turcz. The herb of a better grade is tender, foliose (leafy), and green.
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1.Introduction of Ze Lan:Bugleweed Herb or Herba Lycopi.
✵The article gives records of the herb Bugleweed Herb, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its herbal classic book defined botanical source one plant species, ①.Lycopus lucidus Turcz. var. hirtus Regel., and another usable plant species, ②.Lycopus lucidus Turcz., 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 Bugleweed Herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Zé Lán.
Botanical description: The plant, Lycopus lucidus Turcz is commonly known as Dì Guā ér Miáo (means sweet potato seedling) or Dì Sǔn (means earth bamboo shootings). A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 0.6–1.7 meters high; The rhizome is cylindrical and amphitropous underground, with nodes, there are lodicules, and dense fibrous roots on nodes. Stems are upright, usually unbranched, prismatic, grooved, and green, nodes are mostly prunus (violet-red), glabrous, or penicilium on nodes.
Verticillasters are multiflorous (pluriflorous), auxillary; bracteoles are ovate-lanceolate, apex has thorn tip, shorter than calyx or nearly equal length, pubescent; calyx is campaniform (bell-shaped), about 4 mm long, both surfaces are glabrous, 4~6-lobed, lobes are narrowly triangular, apex is spiny shape; corolla is campaniform (bell-shaped) and white, 4.5-5 mm long, outside is glabrous, has yellow shiny glandular points, the upper lip and lower lip are nearly equal length, the apex of upper lip is emarginated (slightly concave), the lower lip is 3-lobed, central lobe is bigger, orbicular, ambilateral lobes are slightly shorter and small; the front pair has 2 fertile stamens, stretch beyond the corolla, anther cell is diverging, back a pair of stamens are staminodes, only filaments are remaining or sometimes all disappear, sometimes four stamens are all degenerated, only has filaments and anther residual marks; ovary is oblong, deeply 4-parted, inserted on floral disc, style stretches beyond corolla, glabrous, stigma is unequally 2-lobed, flat.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in areas at altitudes below 2,100 meters above sea level, in marshes, hills and low-lying land, waterside, and other wet places. The plant is distributed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, northern and west-northern areas, the Zhujiang river area, southwest area, and Taiwan of China.
Characters of herbs: The stems are square column-shaped, with shallow longitudinal grooves on four sides, 50–100 cm long, and 2~5 mm in diameter, the surface is yellow-green or slightly purplish, nodes are conspicuous, and the internode lengths are 2–11 cm; The texture of the herb is crisp, easily broken, the pith is hollow. Leaves are opposite, mostly wizzled, lanceolate, or oblong after flattening, edges are serrated, the upper surface is black green (dark green), the under surface is celadon(grayish green), and it has brown glandular spots. Flowers are tufty in the axils of leaves, rotate, the corolla mostly falls off, and the bracts and calyx are persistent. The herb has a slight odor and a mild taste. The herb of a better grade is tender, foliose (leafy), and green.
Botanical description: The plant, Lycopus lucidus Turcz. var. hirtus Regel is commonly known as Máo Yè Dì Guā ér Miáo (means hairy-leaf sweet potato seedling), or Máo Yè Dì Sǔn (means hairy-leaf earth bamboo shootings). It is a varietas of the Lycopus lucidus Turcz. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 40~100 cm tall. The underground rhizome is amphitropous, slightly thickened, and white. Stem is upright, square, with four edges and corners, hollow, the upper surface is green, prunus (violet-red) purplish-red or purplish green (violet-blue), smooth and glabrous, with only tufts of hair on nodes, leaves are decussate; Lanceolate, narrowly lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, 4.5~11 cm long, 8~35 mm wide, the apex is long pointed, the base is cuneate, the margin is coarsely serrate, sometimes serrate between teeth; subcoriaceous (more or less coriaceous), slightly glossy above, glabrous, densely glandular below, glabrous or has sparsely white pilose on veins; Petiole is short or subsessile (nearly sessile).
Verticillasters are axillary; flowers are small, multiflorous (polyanthous); bracts are lanceolate, the margin is piliferous; the calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped), about 4 mm long, the apex is 5-lobed; lobes are narrowly lanceolate; the apex is long pointed; the corolla is white, campaniform (bell-shaped), slightly exposed to the calyx, 4.5~5 mm long, glandular at the outside; the upper lip is upright; the lower lip is 3-lobed; lobes are nearly equal length; 2 fertile stamens; the ovary is rectangular, 4-lobed, inserted on floral disc, stigma is 2-lobed, protruding.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in swamps, water, and other wet places. It is mainly distributed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, northwest, and other areas of China.
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