What medicinal herb is Bletilla striata? Read this latest introduction to understand it in one article

Bletilla striata is also known as purple orchid, bract-bearing orchid, lianjicao, etc. It is a perennial herbaceous bulbous plant of the genus Bletilla in the orchid family. It often grows in relatively moist stone crevices, moss layers, or at forest edges, in grass clusters, or in places with mountain springs. It is widely distributed throughout the Yangtze River basin in China and has extensive medicinal and garden value. Let us take a look below at what medicinal herb Bletilla striata is!

What medicinal herb is Bletilla striata?

Bletilla striata is an astringent hemostatic. The dried tuber of Bletilla striata is a relatively commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. It has the effects of astringing to stop bleeding and reducing swelling and promoting tissue regeneration. It is used for conditions such as coughing blood and vomiting blood, traumatic bleeding, sores and ulcers with swelling and toxin, skin chapping, hemoptysis from pulmonary tuberculosis, and bleeding from ulcer disease. The flowering period is in spring, but depending on different climates in various places, it may bloom from late winter to early summer. The flowers come in colors such as purplish red, white, blue, yellow, and pink. It can be grown in pots for indoor viewing, and can also be used as an accent in relatively shady flower platforms, flower borders, or a corner of a courtyard.

What effects does Bletilla striata have?

1. Hemostatic effect: Bletilla striata has a hemostatic effect. It can enhance the activity of platelet factor III, significantly shorten clotting time and prothrombin formation time, inhibit fibrinolytic enzyme activity, and has a very good therapeutic effect on local bleeding.

2. Whitening and spot removal: Bletilla striata has a whitening and spot-removing effect. Many whitening and spot-removing products on the market contain ingredients from Bletilla striata. You can also mix white poria powder, angelica dahurica powder, and Bletilla striata powder into a facial mask to whiten and remove spots.

3. Healing sores and moisturizing skin: The Bletilla striata gum contained in Bletilla striata has very good astringent and hemostatic effects. It can also effectively improve local blood circulation, thereby promoting epithelial cell repair, and can heal sores, stop bleeding, moisturize skin, and promote tissue regeneration.

4. Slowing aging: Bletilla striata contains a polysaccharide that has an obvious ability to scavenge free radicals in the body. As the polysaccharide concentration increases, its scavenging effect gradually strengthens, and the free radical scavenging activity of Bletilla striata is higher than that of vitamin E1.

5. Reducing swelling and antibacterial: Bletilla striata has the effects of reducing swelling and being antibacterial. It is often used for the early stages of sores and ulcers and for chapped hands and feet. It has an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis hominis, and its water infusion has an inhibitory effect on Microsporum audouinii.

What contraindications does Bletilla striata have?

1. It is contraindicated for those with hemoptysis due to external contraction, early-stage pulmonary abscess, and excess heat in the lungs and stomach.

2. Fluorite is its guiding mineral; it is antagonistic to aconite, dislikes selenite, and fears plum kernels and apricot kernels.

3. Once sores and abscesses have ulcerated, it should not be taken together with bitter-cold medicines.

What ways are there to eat Bletilla striata?

1. Bletilla striata and rock sugar bird's nest

[Ingredients] 15 grams of Bletilla striata, 10 grams of bird's nest, a little rock sugar.

[Method] Wash Bletilla striata and cut into thin slices, remove the hair and debris from the bird's nest, put both into a bowl, add an appropriate amount of water, and steam over water until cooked, then filter out the medicinal residue. Add rock sugar and an appropriate amount of water to the pot and boil, remove the residue, and pour the sugar liquid into the bird's nest to eat.

[Effects] Tonifies the lungs and nourishes yin, stops cough and stops bleeding. Suitable for people with pulmonary tuberculosis and emphysema who cough blood.

2. Bletilla striata and sheep liver soup

[Ingredients] 15 grams of Bletilla striata, 100 grams of sheep liver, 5 grams each of ginger, scallion, and salt.

[Method] Wash Bletilla striata and put it into a stewing cup for later use. Wash the sheep liver and slice it, slice the ginger, and cut the scallion into sections. Put Bletilla striata into a stewing pot, bring to a boil over high heat, add ginger, scallion, and salt, then simmer over low heat for half an hour, add the sheep liver and cook until done.

[Effects] Tonifies the liver and benefits the kidneys, improves eyesight. Suitable for patients with chronic hepatitis.