INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii
Common English: Zhejiang Fritillaria Bulb
Thunberg Fritillaria Bulb
Fritillaria
Herbs that Transform Phlegm and Stop Wheezing: Herbs that Cool and Transform Phlegm-Heat
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Bitter
Cold
(Slightly Cold)
Heart
Lung
(San Jiao)
(Liver)
(Stomach)
3-12g
Powder: 1-1.5g
Tumors: 4-5g
Tincture: 1-4ml
Actions Indications/Syndromes

Clears Heat, transforms Phlegm and stops coughing

Acute Lung Heat patterns with productive cough

Clears Heat and dissipates nodules

Phlegm-Fire causing neck swellings (Chuang Yung)

Lung and breast abscesses

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • This herb is ineffective for Cold-Damp Phlegm.
  • The raw, unprocessed herb is toxic and should never be taken internally.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
  • Incompatible with Rx. Aconiti Wu Tou.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Fr. Forsythiae
Lian Qiao
Fr. Arctii
Niu Bang Zi

Rx. Scrophulariae
Xuan Shen
Concha Ostreae
Mu Li
Sp. Prunellae
Xia Ku Cao

Sargassum
Hai Zao
Thallus Eckloniae
Kun Bu
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum
Zhi Ban Xia

Acute cough due to Wind-Heat Invasion with dry mouth, scratchy throat and thick yellow sputum.

Scrofula due to Phlegm-Fire with swelling and pain at multiple sites.

Rock-like masses in the center of the neck.

Sp. Prunellae
Xia Ku Cao
Sargassum
Hai Zao
Rz. Curcumae
E Zhu
(Thallus Eckloniae)
(Kun Bu)

Endoconcha Sepiae
Hai Piao Xiao

Flos Lonicerae
Jin Yin Hua
Hb. Taraxaci
Pu Gong Ying
Flos Chrysanthemi
Ju Hua

Thyroid nodules, goiter and tumors.

Epigastric pain and acid regurgitation.

Abscesses and other toxic swellings. (most appropriate in the early stages with firm swelling, redness and pain)

Sm. Coicis
Yi Yi Ren
Hb. Houttuyniae
Yu Xing Cao
Sm. Benincasae
Dong Gua Ren
or
Rz. Phragmitis
Lu Gen

Fr. Forsythiae
Lian Qiao

Fol. Mori
Sang Ye
Fr. Arctii
Niu Bang Zi
Rx. Peucedani
Qian Hu
Sm. Armeniacae
Xing Ren

Lung Abscess with copious pus.

Clears Heat toxin, transforms turbid Phlegm, opens Stagnation and disperses clumped swellings to treat cough with thick yellow sputum, scrofula and goiter from Phlegm-Fire.

Cough due to Wind-Heat or Phlegm-Heat.

Sm. Armeniacae
Xing Ren

Rx. Asteris
Zi Wan
Flos Farfarae
Kuan Dong Hua
Rx. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong

Rx. Scrophulariae
Xuan Shen
Concha Ostreae
Mu Li

Rx. Platycodi
Jie Geng
Rx. Asteris
Zi Wan

Dry cough due to Lung Yin Deficiency.

Nodules without abscess.

Cough with pus or Blood.

Hb. Taraxaci
Pu Gong Ying
Rx. Trichosanthis
Tian Hua Fen
Fr. Forsythiae
Lian Qiao

 

 

Carbuncles, abscesses and breast lumps.

 

 

  1. Both Zhe Bei Mu and Bul. Fritillariae Cirrhosae Chuan Bei Mu cool and transform Phlegm-Heat, alleviate cough and disperse nodules. Chuan Bei Mu is bitter, sweet, nourishes and moistens the Lung and is commonly used for dry cough and in chronic conditions with weak Lungs like tuberculosis, while Bul. Fritillariae Thunbergii Zhe Bei Mu is bitter, cold, descending and acrid; stronger at cooling Heat and dispersing clumps and more commonly used in acute externally-contracted conditions of cough and asthma with thick, yellow and difficult to expectorate Phlegm. It is also preferred for for swellings, nodules, lumps and abscesses and whenever toxicity is involved.
  2. Chuan Bei Mu and Zhe Bei Mu are often not differentiated and called simply Bei Mu. In this case, since Zhe Bei Mu is less expensive, it is most often used in these cases.
  3. Symptoms of toxicity include: reduced breathing, mydriasis, tremors and coma.
  4. This herb has been shown to have an anti-cancer effect.
  5. This herb is common in formulas for breast cancer, lung abscess and swollen glands.
  6. This herb is said to be an astringent and detoxicant, protects the Heart, reinforces the viscera and is said to cure furuncles, swelling and tumors.
  7. It is also said to eliminate toxins, relieve Stagnation and invigorate the Blood, for consumptive diseases of the Lung, pulmonary abscess, goiter, subcutaneous nodules, cellulitis and many other types of infections.
  8. It is also said to treat Lung Deficiency, chronic asthma, a dry throat with scanty Phlegm, scrofula and breast and Lung carbuncles.
  9. When treating swellings, it is combined with Rx. Platycodi Jie Geng and taken in large doses.
  10. Some sources say that this herb moistens the Lungs, regulates Lung Qi and stops cough.
  11. This herb is appropriate for External Wind with Phlegm-Heat Obstructing the Lungs with cough, thick, yellow Phlegm, chest pain, scrofula, boils and other toxic swellings.
  12. This herb can treat bleeding from stab wounds from metal implements.
  13. This herb can also treat lymphatic swelling, fibrocystic breasts and tumors.
  14. Both Zhe Bei Mu and Rz. Pinelliae Preparata Zhi Ban Xia transform Phlegm to alleviate cough. Zhe Bei Mu treats only the Lungs, is bitter and Cold, cools Heat and is gradual in action. Zhi Ban Xia treats the Lung and Spleen, is acrid and warm disperses Cold and is quick in nature.
  15. Bul. Bolbostemma Paniculatum clears Heat, disperses Stagnation and reduces sores and swellings. It is mainly used externally. It is not the same as Chuan Bei Mu or Zhe Bei Mu and should not be confused with them.