What medicinal herb is Bletilla striata? An introduction to its effects and uses
Bletilla striata, also known as purple orchid, bracteate tongue orchid, and lianjicao, is a perennial herbaceous bulbous plant of the genus Bletilla in the orchid family. It often grows on relatively moist stone walls and moss layers, or at forest edges, in grass clumps, and in places with mountain springs. It is widely distributed throughout the Yangtze River basin in China and has extensive medicinal and landscaping 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, reducing swelling, and promoting tissue regeneration, and is used for 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 the climate of different regions, it may flower 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 on fairly shaded flower stands, in flower borders, or in a corner of the courtyard.
What effects does Bletilla striata have?
1. Hemostatic effect: Bletilla striata has a hemostatic effect. It can enhance the activity of platelet factor 3, significantly shorten clotting time and prothrombin formation time, and inhibit fibrinolysin activity, giving it a very good therapeutic effect on local bleeding.
2. Whitening and spot removal: Bletilla striata has whitening and spot-removing effects. Many whitening and spot-removing products on the market contain ingredients from Bletilla striata. A mask made by mixing white poria powder, angelica dahurica powder, and Bletilla striata powder can also be used to whiten the skin and remove spots.
3. Astringing sores and moisturizing the skin: The bletilla gum contained in Bletilla striata has very good astringent and hemostatic effects, and can also effectively improve local blood circulation, thereby promoting epithelial cell repair. It can astringe sores, stop bleeding, moisturize the 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 resisting bacteria: Bletilla striata has the effects of reducing swelling and resisting bacteria, and is often used for the early stage 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 should not be taken by those with hemoptysis from exogenous contraction, the early stage of pulmonary abscess, or excess heat in the lung and stomach.
2. Fluorite is its guiding mineral; it is incompatible with aconite, dislikes marble, and is antagonized by plum kernels and almonds.
3. Once sores and ulcers have ruptured, it is not suitable to take it 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 feathers and debris from the bird's nest. Put both ingredients together 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 a pot and boil, remove the residue, and pour the syrup into the bird's nest to eat.
[Effects] Tonifies the lung and nourishes yin, stops coughing and bleeding. Suitable for those with pulmonary tuberculosis or emphysema who cough up 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.