Introduction of Bei Sha Shen: Coastal Glehnia Root
✵The article records the herb Coastal Glehnia Root—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, botanical source (one plant species: Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt ex Miq.), and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Radix Glehniae (Coastal Glehnia Root)
Pinyin Name: Běi Shā Shēn
English Name: Coastal Glehnia Root
Latin Name:Radix Glehniae Properties and Flavor: Cool in nature; sweet, slightly bitter, and tasteless
Brief Introduction:Radix Glehniae is the dried root of Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt ex Miq., used to nourish Lung and Stomach Yin and promote fluid production for treating thirst (dipsosis), dry throat, and dry cough. It is commonly known as Radix Glehniae, Coastal Glehnia Root, or Běi Shā Shēn.
Botanical Source: Traditional herbal works and authoritative pharmacopoeias define Radix Glehniae (Běi Shā Shēn) as the root of Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt ex Miq.—a perennial herb of the genus Glehnia, family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae, parsley family), order Apiales. This widely used species is described below:
(1) Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt ex Miq.
Botanical Description:Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt ex Miq. is a perennial herb of the Apiaceae family and genus Glehnia, commonly known as Běi Shā Shēn. It grows 5–20 cm tall. The entire plant is covered with white pubescence. The taproot is slender and elongated, cylindrical, 30–40 cm long and 0.5–1.5 cm in diameter; it is densely fibrous, rarely branched. The cortex is yellowish-white; fibrous roots are small and arise from the taproot; lateral roots are sparse.
The aerial portion of the stem is short; the subterranean portion is elongated. Basal leaves are thick and petiolate; petioles measure 5–15 cm long, with a broad, sheath-like base and membranous margins. Leaf blades are ovate to triangular-ovate in outline, ternately compound or ternately bipinnatifid; terminal lobes are obovate to ovate, 1–6 cm long and 1–4 cm wide, with rounded to acuminate apices, cuneate to truncate bases, incised-serrate margins, and whitish cartilaginous margins at tips. Petioles and leaf veins bear fine, short hairs. Cauline leaves resemble basal leaves, but their petiole bases gradually enlarge into sheaths.
Compound umbels are terminal, densely covered with taupe, long pilose hairs, 3–6 cm in diameter; peduncles are 2–6 cm long. Umbel rays number 8–16, unequal in length (1–3 cm). Involucral bracts are absent. Bracteoles are few, linear-lanceolate, with densely pubescent margins and lower surfaces. Each umbellule bears 15–20 flowers. Calyx teeth are 5, narrow triangular-lanceolate, sparsely covered with coarse hairs. Petals are white. The stylopodium is short and conical.
The cremocarp (mericarp) is globose or elliptic, 6–13 mm long and 6–10 mm wide, densely covered with brown pilose hairs and fluff. Fruit ribs bear corky wings. The transverse section of the mericarp is oblate-elliptic, with five prominent ridges and angles; the commissure is flat; vittae (oil ducts) are numerous and arranged in a circular pattern. The ventral surface of the endosperm is slightly concave. Flowering occurs from May to July; fruiting from June to August.
Ecological Environment: Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt ex Miq. grows naturally on coastal sands and beaches, and is also cultivated in fertile, loose, sandy loam soils.
Growth Characteristics: Glehnia littoralis prefers a warm, moist climate; it is cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant but intolerant of waterlogging. It is sensitive to continuous cropping and should not follow peanut cultivation. Suitable soils for cultivation include deep, loose, fertile, well-drained oil sand, sandy loam, or alluvial sandy loam. Heavy clay soils and low-lying, waterlogged lands are unsuitable.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root is thin and cylindrical, occasionally branched, 15–45 cm long, with a diameter of 0.2–1.5 cm (commonly 0.4–1.2 cm). The surface is yellowish-white, slightly coarse and rough, and may retain traces of cortex; where bark remains, it is yellowish-brown, bearing irregular vertical grooves and fissures, yellowish-brown elongated lenticels, and numerous punctate, protuberant radicel marks (i.e., scars of lateral or fibrous roots). The root head tapers gradually and bears a residual stem base. The texture is firm yet crisp, breaking easily. The fracture surface shows a light yellowish-white cortex, a bistre (seal-brown) cambium ring, and a yellow xylem with distinct radial striations. The herb has a mild fragrance and a slightly sweet taste.
Pharmacological actions: (1) Enhances in vitro contractility of toad heart; (2) Increases blood pressure; (3) Exhibits antipyretic and analgesic effects; (4) Inhibits delayed-type hypersensitivity; (5) Suppresses cellular immune function and proliferation of T and B lymphocytes.
Medicinal Efficacy: Nourishes Lung and Stomach Yin, clears Lung heat, generates body fluids, resolves phlegm, and alleviates cough. It is indicated for: lung-heat-induced dry cough; lung dryness and dry cough; chronic cough due to overstrain with blood-tinged sputum; consumptive disorders (e.g., pulmonary tuberculosis) with chronic cough or hemoptysis; Stomach-Yin deficiency; febrile diseases injuring body fluids; fluid depletion causing dry mouth; Yin deficiency with dry throat; and dry throat accompanied by thirst.
Administration of Radix Glehniae (Běi Shā Shēn):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Radix Glehniae (Běi Shā Shēn)
TCM Books:
①.Internally: 5–12 g in decoction; ②.Internally: water decoction, 3–5 qian (≈9–15 grams); or prepared as an ointment or pill; ③.Internally: water decoction, 5–10 grams; or formulated as an ointment, pill, or powder.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Radix Glehniae is contraindicated with Rhizoma Veratri Nigri (Black False Hellebore) and Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae. It should be avoided in cases of wind-cold cough and Lung- or Stomach-Yin deficiency with cold signs.
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1.Introduction of Bei Sha Shen: Coastal Glehnia Root
✵The article records the herb Coastal Glehnia Root—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, botanical source (one plant species: Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt ex Miq.), and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Běi Shā Shēn
Botanical Description: Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt ex Miq. is a perennial herb of the Apiaceae family and genus Glehnia, commonly known as Běi Shā Shēn. It grows 5–20 cm tall. The entire plant is covered with white pubescence. The taproot is slender and elongated, cylindrical, 30–40 cm long and 0.5–1.5 cm in diameter; it is densely fibrous, rarely branched. The cortex is yellowish-white; fibrous roots are small and arise from the taproot; lateral roots are sparse.
Compound umbels are terminal, densely covered with taupe, long pilose hairs, 3–6 cm in diameter; peduncles are 2–6 cm long. Umbel rays number 8–16, unequal in length (1–3 cm). Involucral bracts are absent. Bracteoles are few, linear-lanceolate, with densely pubescent margins and lower surfaces. Each umbellule bears 15–20 flowers. Calyx teeth are 5, narrow triangular-lanceolate, sparsely covered with coarse hairs. Petals are white. The stylopodium is short and conical.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root is thin and cylindrical, occasionally branched, 15–45 cm long, with a diameter of 0.2–1.5 cm (commonly 0.4–1.2 cm). The surface is yellowish-white, slightly coarse and rough, and may retain traces of cortex; where bark remains, it is yellowish-brown, bearing irregular vertical grooves and fissures, yellowish-brown elongated lenticels, and numerous punctate, protuberant radicel marks (i.e., scars of lateral or fibrous roots). The root head tapers gradually and bears a residual stem base. The texture is firm yet crisp, breaking easily. The fracture surface shows a light yellowish-white cortex, a bistre (seal-brown) cambium ring, and a yellow xylem with distinct radial striations. The herb has a mild fragrance and a slightly sweet taste.
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