Radix Glehniae (Beishashen) ——Glehnia Root
Origin
Glehnia Root is the dried root of Glehnia littoralis Fr. Schmidt ex Miq. The drug is collected in summer and autumn,removed from rootlet, washed clean,dried slightly in the air,treated with boiling water, peeled and dried, or dried immediatley directly after washing.
Description and Identification
Slenderly cylindrical,branching occassionally, 15 ~ 45cm long,0.4 ~ 1.2cm in diameter. Externally yellowish-white,slightly rough, occasionally with patches of cork adhering,or yellowish-brown when unpeeled,finely wrinkled longitudinally,and with brownish-yellow spotted rootlet scars. Top usually with yellowish-brown remains of rhizome. The upper part somewhat thin,the middle part relatively thick,and the lower part gradually tapering. Texture fragile,easily broken, fracture yellowish-white in bark and yellow in wood. Odour characteristic; taste .sweetish.
Chemical Ingredients
It has many kinds of coumarin genre compounds, including psoralen, bergapten, and xanthotoxin. And it also has amy lose, phospholipid, etc.
Property and Channel Tropism
Property: sweet and slightly bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature. Channel tropism: lung, stomach.
Action and Indications
To replenish yin of the lung and stomach, remove heat from the lung, and promote fluid secretion. Dry cough caused by heat in the lung; bloody sputum in phthisis; thirst in febrile diseases.
Precaution
Incompatible with Rhizoma et Radix Veratri.
