Caryopteridis Incanae Herba
Aliases：Shān Bò He (Mountain Mint), Dú Jiǎo Qiú (Single-foot Ball), Lán Huā Cǎo (Blue Flower Herb), Jiǔ Yào Cǎo (Wine Medicinal Herb).
Bǎo Tǎ Huā is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the whole plant or whole plant with roots of Caryopteris incana (Thunb.) Miq., a plant belonging to the family Verbenaceae. This plant is an erect shrub, 25–60 cm tall, densely covered with fine hairs; leaves are opposite, ovate or ovate-oblong, with coarsely serrate margins; flowers are in cymes with blue corollas.
Efficacy & Actions
Disperses wind and releases the exterior; dispels cold and removes dampness; disperses stasis and relieves pain. It is also recorded as having the effects of releasing the exterior and dispelling cold, and removing dampness and dispersing stasis.
Indications
Indicated for wind-cold common cold with headache, cough, whooping cough, cold and pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, vomiting and diarrhea due to improper diet, cold and blood stasis-type dysmenorrhea, postpartum blood stasis and abdominal pain, wind-cold-dampness arthralgia, bruises and swelling from falls or blows, non-healing ulcers (Yin-type carbuncles), eczema, snakebites, and hookworm dermatitis. In modern clinical practice, it is also used for upper respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, gastroenteritis, rheumatic joint pain, and skin itching.
Modern Pharmacology
Antibacterial effects: Lancao caulis sodium exhibits significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium diphtheriae in vitro, and shows certain inhibitory effects against Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A and B, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, and Streptococcus hemolyticus. High concentrations are bactericidal, while low concentrations are bacteriostatic. Antitussive effects: The decoction of Lancao caulis has been shown to relieve cough induced by ammonia stimulation in chronic tracheitis models. Hemostatic effects: The powder, extract, and film-forming agent of Lancao caulis significantly shorten incision bleeding time in pigs, dogs, and other animals. Antioxidant effects: The phenylethanoid glycosides (Lancao caulis glycosides C, D, E) isolated from the whole plant exhibit strong DPPH free radical scavenging activity and linoleic acid oxidation inhibitory activity.
Ingredients
Volatile oils: Contains α-thujene, α-pinene, β-pinene, camphene, p-cymene, β-ocimene, α-cedrene, β-bisabolene, δ-cadinene, γ-cadinene, sabinene, β-myrcene, α-terpinene, limonene, β-phellandrene, α-terpinolene, α-cubebene, β-caryophyllene, (−)-aromadendrene, α-humulene, and others. Phenolic acids (found in leaves and young stems): o-Hydroxycinnamic acid, p-hydroxycinnamic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, and ellagic acid. Others: Reworked rosane ester, cryptojaponol, and Lancao caulis glycosides A, B, C, D, E.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 10–15 g; or steep in wine for consumption. For external use: apply an appropriate amount, crushed and applied topically; or extract the juice for topical application; or decoct in water for fumigation and washing.
Contraindications
However, as this herb is warm in nature, those with Yin deficiency and fire excess, as well as pregnant women, should use it under the guidance of a physician.
Selected Formulas
For wind-cold common cold with headache and cough: Take 10–15 g of Bǎo Tǎ Huā, decoct in water, and drink the liquid. For traumatic injuries with stasis and swelling: Take an appropriate amount of fresh Bǎo Tǎ Huā, crush it, and apply topically. Alternatively, extract the juice and decoct it with equal parts of water and wine for oral administration. For postpartum blood stasis and abdominal pain: Take 15 g of Bǎo Tǎ Huā, decoct in water, and take orally.
Daily Consumption
Wine infusion for oral administration: Bǎo Tǎ Huā (Caryopteris incana) may be steeped in white wine to make a medicinal wine and consumed in moderation.
Medicinal Parts
Dried whole plant or whole plant with roots.
Selection & Storage
Store in a ventilated, dry place, protected from moisture.
