Nervilia fordii (Hance) Schltr.
Aliases：Dú Yè Lián (Single-leaf Lotus); Zhēn Zhū Cǎo (Pearl Grass); Dú Jiǎo Lián (Single-foot Lotus); Zhēn Zhū Yè (Pearl Leaf); Zhuì Qiān Jīn (Dropping Thousand Gold); Tiě Mào Zi (Iron Hat); Shān Mǐ Zǐ (Mountain Rice Seed); Tiān Kuí (Sky Sunflower); Rù Dì Zhēn Zhū (Underground Pearl); Jiǎ Tiān Má (False Gastrodia); Dú Jiǎo Tiān Kuí (Single-foot Sky Sunflower); Zhū Nǎi Er (Sow's Ear); Mó Dì Shā (Ground-scraping Sand); Bàn Biān Sǎn (Half Umbrella); Xiǎo Pàng Yào (Little Chubby Herb); Tí Xīn Diào Dǎn (Heart-in-Mouth Herb); Qīng Lián (Green Lotus).
Qīng Tiān Kuí is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the dried whole plant or whole plant with tuber of Nervilia fordii (Hance) Schltr., a plant of the Orchidaceae family. This herb is commonly used in the Lingnan region and was first recorded in the Lingnan Cai Yao Lu (Records of Medicinal Herbs from Lingnan), a Lingnan materia medica classic from the Republic of China period.
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat, moistens the lungs, disperses stasis, detoxifies, stops cough, and resolves phlegm.
Indications
Used for hemoptysis due to pulmonary tuberculosis, lung-heat cough, cough with blood-stained sputum due to phlegm-fire, stomatitis, sore throat, scrofula, sores and toxic swellings, and traumatic injuries. It is also used for infantile pneumonia, infantile malnutrition (childhood wasting disorder), bronchitis, acute laryngitis, psychiatric disorders, high fever, whooping cough (pertussis), sinusitis, lung distension, and mumps (parotitis), among other conditions.
Modern Pharmacology
Antitumor Effects: Extracts of Qing Tian Kui (Nervilia fordii) have inhibitory effects on tumor cells and show a certain relieving effect on nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Flavonoids isolated from the whole plant are an important material basis for its antitumor activity. Anti-inflammatory and Antipyretic Effects: Exhibits anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities. Antiviral Effects: Exhibits antiviral activity. Antibacterial Effects: Exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Antioxidant Effects: Qing Tian Kui polysaccharides show significant in vitro antioxidant activity. Immunomodulatory Effects: The homogeneous polysaccharide fractions of Qing Tian Kui exhibit immunomodulatory activity.
Ingredients
Flavonoids: 12 flavonoid compounds have been isolated from the whole plant of Qing Tian Kui, making them one of its main active components. Terpenoids and Triterpenoids. Steroids. Amino Acids. Volatile Oils. Organic Acids. Coumarins: 1 coumarin compound has been isolated from the whole plant of Qing Tian Kui. Polysaccharides: Qing Tian Kui polysaccharides are important active components with antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 9–15g. The clinical dosage may range from 6–30g, adjusted individually based on the patient's condition and constitution. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, mashed and applied to the affected area. Wine Infusion: May be steeped in wine and consumed for treating internal injuries.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with yang deficiency. As Qing Tian Kui is cool in nature, it may aggravate cold symptoms in patients with yang deficiency. Contraindicated during pregnancy: Qing Tian Kui has certain blood-moving and stasis-dispelling effects, which may cause miscarriage. Use with caution in individuals with allergies: May cause allergic reactions. Use with caution in patients with cold constitution or deficiency: As it is cool in nature, it may worsen symptoms of coldness in such individuals.
Selected Formulas
For scrofula (Lingnan Caicai Lu) Take Qingtiankui (Nervilia fordii) and stew with meat, drink the soup; or stir‑fry and eat. For phlegm‑fire cough with hemoptysis and fire sores (Lingnan Caicai Lu) Take Qingtiankui, decoct in water and drink. For internal injury (Lingnan Caicai Lu) Take Qingtiankui, soak in wine and drink. For traumatic injury (Luchuan Bencao) Take Qingtiankui, which has hemostatic and stasis‑removing effects. Crush and apply externally, or decoct in water and drink. For heat‑type cough (medicinal diet formula: Sangbai Tiankui Yin) Take 10g Qingtiankui, 10g south apricot kernel (or north apricot kernel), and 80g lean pork. Add 600ml water, boil over high heat, then simmer for 20 minutes, season with salt. Action: Clears heat, resolves toxicity, resolves phlegm, and stops cough.
Daily Consumption
Decoction for Oral Use: Take 9–15g of Qing Tian Kui, decoct in water, and drink. May be used as an adjunctive treatment for lung-heat cough, sore throat, and other conditions. Qing Tian Kui Stewed with Meat: Stew Qing Tian Kui with lean pork and consume. May be used as an adjunctive treatment for scrofula and cough with blood-stained sputum due to phlegm-fire. Qing Tian Kui Wine: Steep an appropriate amount of Qing Tian Kui in wine and consume. May be used as an adjunctive treatment for internal injuries and traumatic injuries. Topical Application: Mash an appropriate amount of fresh Qing Tian Kui and apply externally to the affected area. May be used for sores, toxic swellings, and traumatic injuries. Sang Bai Tian Kui Drink: Take 10g of Qing Tian Kui, 10g of apricot kernel (southern or northern variety), and 80g of lean pork. Make into a soup and drink. Suitable for those with heat-type cough.
Medicinal Parts
Dried whole plant or whole plant with tuber.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry place.
