Golden Lotus Flower, also known as Dryland Lotus, Golden Hibiscus, and Dry Golden Lotus, is mentioned in the "Compendium of Materia Medica Supplements". It refers to the flowers of Trollius chinensis Bunge and Trollius asiaticus L. of the Ranunculaceae family, as well as Trollius farreri Stapf and Trollius ledebouri Reichb. The flowers are harvested and dried during the summer when they are in full bloom.
[Processing Method] Take the original medicinal material, remove impurities, and sift out ash debris.
[Characteristics of Medicinal Pieces] 1. Golden Lotus Flower: The flower is wrinkled and shriveled, with a diameter of 2 to 5.2 cm when flattened. It has 8 to 19 sepals, which are golden yellow and inverted ovoid or elliptical in shape. The outer layer has sparsely triangular teeth at the tip. It has 13 to 22 petals, brown in color, linear in shape, and about the same length as the sepals. There are multiple stamens and more than 20 fused carpels with beaked styles. It has a faint aroma and a bitter taste.
2. Broad-Petal Golden Lotus Flower: The flower is wrinkled and shriveled, with a diameter of 2.5 to 4.8 cm when moistened and flattened. It has 10 to 20 sepals, which are orange-yellow and broadly ovoid or inverted ovoid in shape, measuring 1 to 2.2 cm in length and 0.6 to 1.7 cm in width. The margins are entire or have irregular small teeth at the tip. It has 18 to 22 petals, brown in color, spoon-shaped linear, and about the same length as or slightly shorter than the sepals. There are multiple stamens and multiple fused carpels with short styles. It has a faint aroma and a bitter taste.
3. Dwarf Golden Lotus Flower: The flower is solitary, with a long peduncle. It has 5 yellow sepals, wide inverted ovoid in shape, and spoon-shaped linear brown petals. There are multiple stamens. It has a faint aroma and a bitter taste.
4. Short-Petal Golden Lotus Flower: The flower is wrinkled and shriveled, moistened and flattened, with a diameter of 3.3 to 5.5 cm. It has 5 to 8 yellow sepals, with the outer layer being ovoid and the others inverted ovoid, measuring 1.2 to 2.8 cm in length and 1 to 1.5 cm in width. There are a few inconspicuous small teeth at the tip. It has 10 to 22 petals, brown in color, linear, and 1.3 to 1.5 cm in length. There are multiple stamens and approximately 22 fused carpels with short beaked styles. It has a faint aroma, a slightly fragrant taste, and a bitter taste.
[Processing Functions] Golden Lotus Flower has a bitter taste and a slightly cold nature. It enters the lung and stomach meridians. It has the functions of clearing heat, detoxifying, reducing swelling, and improving eyesight. It is used for symptoms such as fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers, swollen and painful gums, gum bleeding, red and swollen eyes, carbuncles, acute otitis media, and acute lymphangitis. It is often used in combination with dandelion to treat acute and chronic tonsillitis (National Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicine); and in combination with chrysanthemum and licorice to decoct and administer for the treatment of acute otitis media, acute tympanic membrane inflammation, acute conjunctivitis, and acute lymphangitis (Hebei Chinese Herbal Medicine). Golden Lotus Flower is commonly used in clinical practice. After processing, it can clean the medicinal material, making it convenient for dispensing and formulation.
