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Latin pharmacognostic name: Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus

Alternate English names: fritillaria [bulb]

Alternate Chinese names: 川贝 chuān bèi

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don; Fritillaria unibracteata Hsiao et K.C. Hsia; Fritillaria delavayi Franch.; Fritillaria przewalskii Maxim. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin (other sources): Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don*; Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don var. ecirrhosa Franch.; Fritillaria unibracteata Hsiao et K.C. Hsia*; Fritillaria delavayi Franch.*; Fritillaria przewalskii Maxim.*; Fritillaria ussuriensis Maxim.; Fritillaria pallidiflora Schrenk.; Fritillaria maximowiczii Freyn

Use: Medicinal

Category: Phlegm-transforming cough-relieving panting-calming agents / Phlegm-transforming agents

Properties: Bitter, sweet; slightly cold.

Channel entry: Lung and heart channels.

Indications:

• Clears heat and transforms phlegm; moistens the lung and relieves cough: Yīn vacuity with enduring cough; lung heat with dry cough; phlegm-heat cough.
• Disperses phlegm and binds: Scrofula; goiter; pulmonary welling-abscesses and mammary welling-abscess.

Dosage & Method: Oral: 3–9g in decoctions; or use in powders and pills. Topical: Grind.

Warnings: Chuān bèi mǔ traditionally clashes with wū tóu (Aconitum), i.e., chuān wū (Aconiti Radix), cǎo wū (Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix).

Quality: Best are plump bulbs that are white on the outside and cross section and mealy in texture.

Product Area: Sìchuān, Tibet, Yúnnán, Gānsū, Qīnghǎi.

See also: Bèi mǔ (贝母 Fritillariae Bulbus, fritillaria [bulb])

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