Flos Humuli
Aliases：Lā Lā Yāng (Clinging Weed), Lā Lā Téng (Clinging Vine), Wǔ Zhuǎ Lóng (Five-clawed Dragon), Lè Cǎo (Binding Grass), Gě Lǜ Màn (Kudzu Hop Vine).
Lǜ Cǎo Huā is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the dried female flower spike of Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr., a plant belonging to the family Moraceae. The plant is an annual or perennial creeping herb, with stems reaching several meters in length, pale green in color with longitudinal ridges, and densely covered with short, downward-pointing prickles on the stems, branches, and petioles. The flowers are unisexual and dioecious; the female inflorescence is a short spike consisting of more than ten florets. It commonly grows by roadsides, in damp areas near ditches, on village fences, or in forest-edge thickets.
Efficacy & Actions
Nourishes Yin, moistens the Lung, clears heat, detoxifies, promotes diuresis, and reduces edema. It is also recorded as having the effect of promoting diuresis and treating strangury.
Indications
Indicated for Yin deficiency with internal heat, dry cough with scanty phlegm, bone-steaming with night sweating, and other conditions. It may also be used for pulmonary tuberculosis with cough, tidal fever, lung-heat cough, and difficult urination.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 6–9 g; or 9–18 g; or grind into powder.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold—as this herb is cold in nature and may impair the Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach. Use with caution during pregnancy.
Selected Formulas
For pulmonary tuberculosis (Modern Practical Chinese Medicine) Take an appropriate amount of Humulus scandens flower, decoct in water and drink. For lung disease cough and lobar pneumonia (Guizhou Folk Prescription Collection) Take an appropriate amount of Humulus scandens flower, decoct in water and drink.
Medicinal Parts
The dried female flower spike (female inflorescence) of Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr., a plant belonging to the family Moraceae.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry container in a ventilated, dry place. Keep in a dry place, protected from moisture and insects.
