Lilii Bulbus
Aliases：Chóng Mài (Layered Wheat); Zhōng Tíng (Central Courtyard); Chóng Xiāng (Layered Box); Mó Luó (Mara); Qiáng Qú (Strong Qu); Bǎi Hé Suàn (Lily Garlic); Suàn Nǎo Shǔ (Garlic-Brain Yam).
Bǎi Hé (Lily Bulb) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the fleshy scale leaf of Lilium lancifolium Thunb., Lilium brownii F. E. Brown var. viridulum Baker, or Lilium pumilum DC., plants of the Liliaceae family. Lily Bulb is a commonly used yin-tonifying Chinese medicinal herb and is also an excellent medicinal and edible substance.
Efficacy & Actions
Nourishes yin, moistens the lungs, clears the heart, and calms the mind.
Indications
Primarily used for yin deficiency with dry cough, consumptive cough with hemoptysis, restless palpitations, insomnia with excessive dreaming, and mental confusi
Modern Pharmacology
Antitussive and expectorant effects: Has clear effects on relieving cough and promoting expectoration. Sedative and hypnotic effects: Exhibits significant sedative and hypnotic effects. Immunomodulatory effect: Can enhance immune function. Other effects: Also exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, including hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, anti-fatigue, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and choleretic effects.
Ingredients
Steroidal Saponins: Such as regaloside A and D, lilioside, deacetyllilioside, among others. Alkaloids: Such as colchicine, among others. Polysaccharides: Lily polysaccharides. Others: Also contains flavonoids, phospholipids, proteins, starch, and various trace elements.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 6–12g. May also be prepared in pills or powder, or steamed, or cooked into congee. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, mashed for external application.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with wind-cold cough. Contraindicated in patients with spleen deficiency and loose stools. Not suitable for patients with internal accumulation of phlegm-dampness, or epigastric and abdominal fullness and distension.
Selected Formulas
For persistent cough or blood‑streaked sputum (Jisheng Fang, Baihua Gao) Take equal parts of Baihe (Lily bulb) and Kuandonghua (Farfara flower). Mix with honey to make pills. Take one pill each time, dissolve in the mouth or chew and swallow. For lung disease with cough, sore throat, and hemoptysis (Shenzhai Yishu, Baihe Gujin Tang) Take Baihe with Shengdi (Raw Rehmannia), Shudi (Prepared Rehmannia), Xuanshen (Scrophularia), and Beimu (Fritillaria). Decoct in water and drink. For deafness and ear pain (Qianjin Fang) Take dried Baihe, grind into powder. Take 2 qian (about 6g) with warm water, twice daily.
Daily Consumption
Steamed Lily Bulb with Honey: Take 100g of Lily Bulb, mix well with an appropriate amount of honey, steam until cooked, and consume before bedtime. It helps nourish yin and moisten the lungs. Lily Bulb and Snow Pear Soup: Cook Lily Bulb together with snow pear and rock sugar. It helps moisten the lungs and quench thirst. Lily Bulb Congee: Cook Lily Bulb together with lotus seeds, red dates, and polished rice. It helps strengthen the spleen and nourish the heart. Daily Dosage Reference: For health maintenance, 5–15g per day; for therapeutic use, 10–30g per day.
Medicinal Parts
Dried fleshy scale leaf.
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place.
