Zhe Bei Mu
StarFritillaria thunbergii Miq.
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat and Transforms Phlegm; Stops Cough; Clears toxins and disperses abscesses; Dissipates Nodules and Softens Hardness
Traditional Chinese Uses
Zhe Bei Mu (Zhejiang fritillary bulb) is a cold, bitter herb that clears Heat and transforms Phlegm-Heat more powerfully than its relative Chuan Bei Mu. It is the preferred fritillary for acute, excess-type conditions — cough with yellow, thick phlegm from Lung Heat, and for softening and dispersing thyroid nodules, lymph node swellings, and breast lumps from Phlegm-Heat accumulation. Its stronger Heat-clearing and Phlegm-dissolving action is suited to robust constitutions and acute presentations.
Botanical Description
Fritillaria thunbergii, the Zhejiang fritillary, is a bulbous perennial herb of the Liliaceae family growing 50 to 80 cm tall from a flattened scaly bulb 2 to 5 cm across composed of two to three thick fleshy white scales that readily separate. Stems are erect, slender, simple, and glabrous. Leaves are linear to linear-lanceolate, 7 to 15 cm long; the lowermost are opposite or in whorls of three, while the upper leaves are usually in whorls of three to four with the uppermost tendril-tipped and coiling at the apex. Two to six pendulous broadly bell-shaped flowers are borne in the upper leaf axils; the six pale yellow-green tepals, about 2.5 to 3.5 cm long, are faintly tessellated with darker veins. The fruit is a six-winged erect capsule. Cultivated principally in Zhejiang.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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