✵The article records the herb Yanhusuo—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—a single plant species, Corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang), and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species; the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb; its pharmacological actions; medicinal efficacy; and administration guidelines.
Rhizoma Corydalis (Yanhusuo)
Pinyin Name: Yán Hú Suǒ (also Yuán Hú)
English Name: Yanhusuo
Latin Name:Rhizoma Corydalis Properties and Flavor: Warm; pungent; bitter
Brief Introduction:Rhizoma Corydalis is the steamed and dried tuber of Corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang. It is used to activate blood circulation and regulate Qi flow—to relieve chest and abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea, and traumatic pain. The herb is commonly known as Rhizoma Corydalis, Yanhusuo, Yán Hú Suǒ, or Yuán Hú.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Rhizoma Corydalis (Yanhusuo) as the dried tuber of Corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang—a perennial herb of the genus Corydalis DC., family Papaveraceae (poppy family), order Ranunculales (revised from outdated Rhoeadales). This widely used species is described below:
(1) Corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang
Botanical Description:Corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang is also known as Corydalis turtschaninovii Bess. f. yanhusuo Y. H. Chou et C. C. Hsu; it is commonly referred to as Yán Hú Suǒ. Plants are glabrous perennials, 9–20 cm tall. Tubers are oblate, 7–15 mm in diameter; the upper surface is slightly depressed, the lower surface bears fibrous roots, and tubers sometimes longitudinally fissure into several valves; the fracture surface is deep yellow.
Stems are erect or ascending, usually simple, with one scale leaf near the base; stem nodes often swell into small tubers, from which new stems emerge; additional small tubers form at nodes of these new stems—frequently resulting in clusters of 3–4 tubers. Basal leaves number 2–4; petioles are 3–8 cm long; leaf blades are broadly triangular in outline (3–6 cm × 4–8 cm), biternately deeply divided; primary lobes are stipitate; terminal lobes are subsessile, lanceolate to oblong-ovate (20–30 mm × 5–8 mm), entire, though a few upper lobes may be shallowly 2-lobed or shallowly toothed. Two cauline leaves are alternate, smaller than basal leaves, and morphologically similar.
Racemes are terminal, 2–5 cm long, bearing 3–8 sparse flowers. Bracts are ovate to narrowly ovate; lower bracts measure ~10 mm and are apically 3–5-lobed; upper bracts are entire. Sepals are two, minute and caducous. The corolla is pale violet-red, with four petals arranged in two whorls: the outer whorl consists of two larger petals (15–25 mm long), each with an expanded, broad obovate to broadly elliptic, pocket-shaped upper lobe bearing small marginal teeth and a shallow sag at the apex; the middle and lower portions extend into a long, slender spur; the lower valve is shorter but similarly shaped, with shallow saccular protrusions at the base. The inner whorl comprises two smaller petals (10–15 mm long), folded upward and enveloping the stamens; their upper portions are broadly obovate, while the middle and lower portions taper into thin, elongated claws. Stamens number six, slightly shorter than the inner petals; three are fused into each of two bundles. The ovary is linear, 8–10 mm long; the style is slender and short; the stigma is orbicular, bearing eight papillae.
The capsule is linear, 1.7–2.2 cm long; the persistent style and stigma become bilobed at maturity. Seeds are arranged in a single row, several per capsule; they are small, flattened, long-elliptic, black, glossy, and densely covered with minute pits. Cultivated varieties often flower profusely but shed immature fruits before ripening. Flowering occurs from March to April; fruiting, from April to May.
Ecological Environment:Corydalis yanhusuo grows naturally in mountain forests, meadows, forest margins, and hilly areas—and is widely cultivated.
Growth Characteristics:Corydalis yanhusuo prefers a warm, moist climate. Cultivation requires sunny, well-drained fields with fertile, loose, humus-rich, neutral to slightly acidic sandy loam or loam soils.
Characteristics of the Herb: The dried tubers of the herb are irregularly oblate, 0.5–1.5 cm or 1–2 cm in diameter; the surface is sallow (grayish-yellow) or brownish-yellow, with irregular reticulate fine wrinkles; there are stem scars or root scars at the slightly concave area on the base, and surrounding it there are several small protrusions; several lumpy lateral root tubers of varying sizes occur on the upper part and sides; there are stem scars and buds on the centrally sunken portion of the main tuber and lateral tubers; some tubers are lobed, or their upper parts are divided into 2–3 lobes. The texture of the herb is firm and hard, difficult to break; the fracture surface is yellow or yellowish-brown, corneous, and exhibits a waxy luster. The herb is odorless or has a mild odor and tastes bitter.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) marked analgesic effect; (2) significant coronary vasodilation; (3) hypnotic effect; (4) reduction of gastric juice secretion, etc.
Medicinal efficacy: Promotes blood circulation, dispels blood stasis, regulates Qi, and alleviates pain. It is indicated for chest and flank pain, epigastric dull pain, lumbar and knee pain, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea (abdominal pain during or after menstruation), menstrual irregularities, abdominal masses, metrorrhagia, postpartum dizziness due to blood deficiency, lochiorrhagia, postpartum blood stasis, and traumatic injuries.
Administration of Rhizoma Corydalis (Yán Hú Suǒ):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Rhizoma Corydalis (Yán Hú Suǒ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–9 grams; as powdered herb, 1.5–3 grams per dose; (2) Internally: water decoction, 1.5–3 qian (≈4.5–9 grams), or formulated into pills or powders; (3) Internally: water decoction, 1.5–3 qian (≈4.5–9 grams), or formulated into pills or powders.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Rhizoma Corydalis should be used with caution during pregnancy and is contraindicated in cases of pregnancy and advanced menstruation.
✵The article records the herb Yanhusuo—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—a single plant species, Corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang), and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species; the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb; its pharmacological actions; medicinal efficacy; and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Yán Hú Suǒ (also Yuán Hú)
Botanical Description: Corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang is also known as Corydalis turtschaninovii Bess. f. yanhusuo Y. H. Chou et C. C. Hsu; it is commonly referred to as Yán Hú Suǒ. Plants are glabrous perennials, 9–20 cm tall. Tubers are oblate, 7–15 mm in diameter; the upper surface is slightly depressed, the lower surface bears fibrous roots, and tubers sometimes longitudinally fissure into several valves; the fracture surface is deep yellow.
Racemes are terminal, 2–5 cm long, bearing 3–8 sparse flowers. Bracts are ovate to narrowly ovate; lower bracts measure ~10 mm and are apically 3–5-lobed; upper bracts are entire. Sepals are two, minute and caducous. The corolla is pale violet-red, with four petals arranged in two whorls: the outer whorl consists of two larger petals (15–25 mm long), each with an expanded, broad obovate to broadly elliptic, pocket-shaped upper lobe bearing small marginal teeth and a shallow sag at the apex; the middle and lower portions extend into a long, slender spur; the lower valve is shorter but similarly shaped, with shallow saccular protrusions at the base. The inner whorl comprises two smaller petals (10–15 mm long), folded upward and enveloping the stamens; their upper portions are broadly obovate, while the middle and lower portions taper into thin, elongated claws. Stamens number six, slightly shorter than the inner petals; three are fused into each of two bundles. The ovary is linear, 8–10 mm long; the style is slender and short; the stigma is orbicular, bearing eight papillae.
Ecological Environment: Corydalis yanhusuo grows naturally in mountain forests, meadows, forest margins, and hilly areas—and is widely cultivated.
Characteristics of the Herb: The dried tubers of the herb are irregularly oblate, 0.5–1.5 cm or 1–2 cm in diameter; the surface is sallow (grayish-yellow) or brownish-yellow, with irregular reticulate fine wrinkles; there are stem scars or root scars at the slightly concave area on the base, and surrounding it there are several small protrusions; several lumpy lateral root tubers of varying sizes occur on the upper part and sides; there are stem scars and buds on the centrally sunken portion of the main tuber and lateral tubers; some tubers are lobed, or their upper parts are divided into 2–3 lobes. The texture of the herb is firm and hard, difficult to break; the fracture surface is yellow or yellowish-brown, corneous, and exhibits a waxy luster. The herb is odorless or has a mild odor and tastes bitter.
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