Canna indica L.
Aliases：Lián Jiāo (literally "Lotus Canna"), Hóng Lián Jiāo (literally "Red Lotus Canna"), Lián Jiāo Huā (literally "Lotus Canna Flower"), Tán Huá (literally "Epiphyllum Flower" — used as an alternative name), Jiāo Yù (literally "Canna Taro"), Jiāng Yù (literally "Ginger Taro"), Bā Jiāo Yù (literally "Plantain Taro"), Hàn Ǒu (literally "Dry Lotus Root"), Jiāo Ǒu (literally "Canna Lotus Root"), Shuǐ Jiāo (literally "Water Canna"), Guān Yīn Jiāo (literally "Guanyin Canna"), Xiǎo Bā Jiāo (literally "Small Plantain"), Hǔ Tóu Jiāo (literally "Tiger‑Head Canna"), Lán Jiāo (literally "Orchid Canna"), Yáng Bā Jiāo (literally "Foreign Plantain"), Pò Xuè Hóng (literally "Breaking Blood Red"), and Hóng Huā Jiāo (literally "Red Flower Canna"). (These are all alternative names for Měi Rén Jiāo, i.e., Canna indica.)
Měi Rén Jiāo (India Canna) is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is the rhizome and flower of Canna indica L., a plant belonging to the family Cannaceae.
Efficacy & Actions
Rhizome: Clears heat and promotes diuresis, calms the mind and lowers blood pressure; it also has the effects of clearing heat and removing toxicity, regulating menstruation, and promoting diuresis. Flower: Cools blood and stops bleeding.
Indications
Rhizome: Icteric acute infectious hepatitis, neurosis, hypertension, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea; for external use, treats traumatic injuries, sores, and toxic swellings. It is also used for irregular menstruation, leukorrhea, jaundice, and dysentery. Flower: Hematemesis, epistaxis, and traumatic bleeding.
Modern Pharmacology
Hepatoprotective and choleretic effects: The rhizome of Canna indica exhibits hepatoprotective and choleretic effects. Effect on blood pressure: It has the effect of regulating blood pressure. Reducing intestinal tension: It can reduce intestinal tension.
Ingredients
Rhizome constituents: Contains dehydrovomifoliol, ethyl 3,4‑dihydroxybenzoate, ethyl caffeate, stigmasta‑4,22‑diene‑3,6‑dione, stigmasta‑4‑ene‑3,6‑dione, stigmastane‑3,6‑dione, β‑sitosterol, stigmasterol, etc. In addition, it also contains fatty alcohols, sterols, phenolics, flavonoids, and glycosides, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Rhizome: For oral administration: decoct in water, 6–15 g (dried product); for fresh product, 30–120 g. For topical application: appropriate amount of fresh product, mashed and applied to the affected area. Flower: For oral administration: decoct in water, 6–15 g.
Contraindications
Contraindicated during pregnancy (for the flower). Use with caution in individuals with allergic constitution. Use with caution in patients with Spleen‑Stomach deficiency‑cold.
Selected Formulas
For acute icteric hepatitis (Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica, 1979) Take 90g of Meirenjiao (Canna indica), 30g each of Luyinggen (Sambucus chinensis root) and Tiemabian (a local herb). Decoct in water and take in three divided doses. During the treatment, avoid fish, shrimp, spicy foods, meat dishes, and animal fats. For acute icteric hepatitis (empirical formula) Take 60g of fresh Meirenjiao root, decoct in water and drink. For hematemesis and epistaxis (empirical formula) Take 6g of Meirenjiao flower and 30g of Baimaogen (Imperata rhizome). Decoct in water and drink. For traumatic bleeding (empirical formula) Take 10-15g of Meirenjiao flower, decoct in water and drink. For dysentery (empirical formula) Take 6g of fresh Meirenjiao root, decoct in water and drink. For damp-heat leukorrhea (empirical formula) Take 15g of Meirenjiao root and 9g of stir-fried Guanzhong (a local herb). Decoct in water and drink. For metrorrhagia due to spleen deficiency (empirical formula) Take 60g of Xiaobajiaotou (Meirenjiao) root and 60g of Jinyingzi (Rosa laevigata) root. Stew with chicken and consume.
Daily Consumption
Meirenjiao tea: Steep 3–5 g of the dried product in boiling water, add a small amount of brown sugar to harmonize the medicinal properties. Suitable for moderate consumption during summer heat. The flowers can be dried for tea: Red flowers may enhance complexion; yellow and white flowers are used to descend qi and relieve summer heat. May be combined with Jinyinhua (Lonicera japonica) and Pugongying (Taraxacum mongolicum) to enhance the effects of clearing heat and removing toxicity.
Medicinal Parts
Rhizome and flower.
Selection & Storage
Store in a cool, dry place, protected from moisture and insects.
