The whole herb of Pulmonaria officinalis, a plant of the Boraginaceae family, is known as Pulmonaria. It is collected in summer and autumn, washed and dried before use. It is distributed in Yunnan, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Henan and other provinces in China.
Pulmonaria Image
Pulmonaria is a perennial herb, 10-45 centimeters tall. The basal leaves are thick and papery, kidney-shaped or heart-shaped, 2.5-6 centimeters long; leaf stalks up to 16 centimeters long; one stem leaf, round, heart-shaped at the base, clasping the stem, entire margin.
The flowers are white, solitary at the end of the stem; calyx with 5 ovate or broadly ovate sepals, bluntly rounded at the top; petals with 5 spoon-shaped, inverted ovate, or inverted lanceolate shapes, up to 2.5 centimeters long, entire margin, sometimes sparsely ciliate or finely divided at the lower or basal part.
Pulmonaria Image
There are 5 stamens, opposite to the petals, with brown anthers prominently protruding above the anthers, and the central part of the degenerate stamens above the 3 deep clefts; ovary superior, with 3 fused carpels, pistil slightly longer than the ovary, stigma 3-lobed. The fruit of Pulmonaria is ovoid. The flowering and fruiting period is from June to September.
Pulmonaria Image
Pulmonaria has a sweet taste and a cold nature. It has the effects of clearing heat, moistening the lungs, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. It is mainly used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis, parotitis, lymphadenitis, pharyngitis, leukorrhea, hot and toxic sores, and bruises.
Take 50 grams of young leaves and tips of Pulmonaria, chop them with a knife, add an egg and mix well, add a little salt, stir-fry in a pan with vegetable oil, and eat after cooking to treat cough.
