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Alternate English names: black false hellebore

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Veratrum nigrum L.; Veratrum schindleri Loes. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin in unofficial sources: Veratrum nigrum L.*; Veratrum schindleri Loes. f.*; Veratrum maackii Reg.; Veratrum puberulum Loes. f.; Veratrum dahuricum Loes. f.; Veratrum grandiflorum (Maxim.) Loes. f.; Veratrum mengtzeanum Loes. f.

Use: Medicinal

Category: Ejection agents

Properties: Bitter, acrid; cold; toxic.

Channel entry: Lung, stomach, and liver channels.

Actions and indications:

• Ejects wind-phlegm: Wind stroke; epilepsy; throat impediment.
• Kills worms and treats lichen: Scab and lichen; bald white scalp sores.
• Additional uses: Lí lú kills mosquitoes and flies and their larvae, so it can be used to make insecticides.

Dosage and method: Oral: 0.3–0.9 gr, used in pills and powders. Grind it to a powder and blend it with oil for topical application.

Warnings: Lí lú is toxic and should be used with care. It is contraindicated in qì vacuity and weak health, after blood loss, and in pregnancy. Lí lú clashes with rén shēn (Ginseng Radix), shā shēn (Adenophorae seu Glehniae Radix), dān shēn (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix), xuán shēn (Scrophulariae Radix), bái sháo (Paeoniae Radix Alba), chì sháo (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), and xì xīn (Asari Herba). If its use results in incessant vomiting, a decoction of cōng bái (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus) should be taken.

Quality: Firm thick roots that are farinaceous on the cross section.

Production area: Most parts of China, especially Liáoníng, Shānxī, and Sìchuān.

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