Chuanbei, also known as Fritillaria cirrhosa, is distributed in Sichuan and Qinghai provinces. It contains rich vitamins, potassium, proteins, and other components, and can be used to treat symptoms such as phlegm-heat cough and asthma, thick and yellow sputum; it is good at moistening the lungs and stopping cough, treating lung dryness and cough caused by yin deficiency; it can also nourish the lungs, protect the throat, and treat symptoms such as chest tightness and irritability caused by phlegm-heat stagnation, as well as treating lymphadenitis and phlegm nodules.
Moistening the Lungs and Transforming Phlegm
Chuanbei has a slightly cold and bitter taste, which can clear the lungs and transform phlegm. Its sweet and moistening properties also enable it to moisten the lungs and stop cough. It is particularly suitable for chronic cough that is not relieved by internal injuries, and for dry phlegm and hot phlegm conditions. It can be used to treat symptoms such as yin deficiency cough, chronic cough with phlegm; it can also treat lung heat, lung dryness cough, and other conditions.
Dispelling Stagnation and Dissipating Abscess
Chuanbei can clear heat, transform phlegm, disperse stagnation, and reduce swelling. It can be used to treat symptoms such as lymphadenitis caused by phlegm-fire stagnation; ulcers and breast abscesses caused by heat-toxin stagnation; and lung abscess with expectoration of pus and blood, chest tightness, and cough.
Antibacterial
In vitro antibacterial experiments have shown that Chuanbei has certain antibacterial effects. At a concentration of 2mg/l, it can inhibit the growth and reproduction of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Chuanbei alkaline extract (1:25) has inhibitory effects on Streptococcus mutans in test tubes.
Blood Pressure Regulation
Chuanbei contains various alkaloids such as chuanbeijine, chuanbeitankaline, bemoxine, chuanzhenalkaline, lubekaline, and sibeixin. These alkaloids have a dual regulatory effect on blood pressure, with a hypertensive effect at low doses and a significant antihypertensive effect at high doses.
Precautions for using Chuanbei
Recommended: Chuanbei has the effects of moistening the lungs, stopping cough, and clearing heat. It is suitable for patients with cough caused by dry heat. These patients may have symptoms such as dry mouth, thick sticky phlegm, yellow color, sore throat, or accompanied by fever and headache. Taking Chuanbei is effective for them.
Avoid: It is not recommended for diabetes patients. Chuanbei can increase the sugar content in the body, worsening the condition of diabetic patients.
It should be avoided by individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold. Chuanbei is a cold herb, and taking it may aggravate the symptoms of spleen and stomach deficiency-cold.
Avoid using it for infants and young children. The various systems in the body of infants and young children are not yet fully developed. Chuanbei's main function is to moisten the lungs and stop coughing, but infants and young children have poor spleen and stomach function, and taking Chuanbei may cause gastrointestinal discomfort. For children with thick coating on the tongue and cough with phlegm, taking Chuanbei may worsen the cough and cause it to persist.
Pregnant women should avoid using Chuanbei. Chuanbei is a commonly used Chinese medicine that contains abundant chuanbeijine, which has the effects of lowering blood pressure, moistening the lungs, and stopping cough. Taking it may cause a decrease in blood pressure and have a significant impact on the normal development of the fetus.
Methods of using Chuanbei
1. Treatment of cough with lung heat and excessive phlegm: Take 75g of Fritillaria cirrhosa (without heart), 1.5g of licorice (roasted), and 75g of almonds (soaked, peeled, and fried), grind them into powder, and make honey pills the size of small marbles. Take them and let them dissolve in the mouth.
2. Treatment of cough caused by wind-cold invasion: Take 3 parts of Fritillaria cirrhosa (peaceful), 50g each of kuan donghua, ephedra (without root nodes), and almonds (soaked, peeled, fried, and ground), and 1.5g of licorice (roasted and shredded). Grind the above five ingredients into powder, sieve it, and take 15g per dose. Boil it with a cup of water and three slices of ginger until seven parts of the liquid remain. Remove the residue and take it warm, regardless of the time.
3. Treatment of sudden cough after typhoid fever: Take 1.5 taels of Fritillaria cirrhosa (simmered until slightly yellow), 1 liang of platycodon grandiflorum (remove the husk), 1 liang of licorice (roasted until slightly red and shredded), 1 liang of violet (washed and remove the root), and half a liang of almonds (soaked, peeled, fried until slightly yellow). Grind the above ingredients into powder, make honey pills the size of Chinese parasol tree seeds. Take them without considering the time, and drink them with congee, 20 pills at a time, or take one pill the size of a marble and let it dissolve in the mouth.
4. Treatment of cough and chest tightness in children: Take half a liang of Fritillaria cirrhosa (without heart, fried with bran), and 1 fen of licorice (roasted). Grind the above two ingredients into powder. For children aged 2 to 3 years old, take 1 qian spoonful and add 7 parts of water. Boil it until 4 parts of the liquid remain, remove the residue, and add a little powdered niuhuang. Take it twice after meals, adjust the dosage according to the child's size.
Note: The above information is for reference only and should not replace professional medical advice. Please consult with a healthcare professional before using Chuanbei or any other herbal remedy.
