Coptis chinensis
| Coptis chinensis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-6.5 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 0.5' |
| Blooms: | Late Winter-Early Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Coptis chinensis (common name: huang lian)
Propagation: Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in an ericaceous compost[1]. Seal the pot in a polythene bag until germination takes place, which is usually within 1 - 6 months at 10°c[1]. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible. Four weeks cold stratification may be beneficial[1]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in mid-autumn or in spring.
Division in spring[2].
Cultivation: Succeeds in a light moist humus-rich slightly acidic soil with a northerly aspect or light shade[3][2].
Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[4].
Range: E. Asia - China.
Habitat: Damp coniferous woods and bogs[4]. Forests, shaded places in valleys at elevations of 500 - 2000 metres[5].
Medicinal: Huang Lian is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs[6]. The root is a pungent, very bitter, cooling herb that controls bacterial and viral infections, relaxes spasms, lowers fevers and stimulates the circulation[4]. It is one of the most frequently used herbs in prescriptions for the treatment of diabetes mellitus[6].
The root is analgesic, locally anaesthetic, antibacterial, antidote, antipyretic, bitter, blood tonic, carminative, cholagogue, digestive, sedative, stomachic, tonic and vasodilator[7][8][9][10]. It is particularly helpful in the treatment of diarrhoea, acute enteritis and dysentery, whilst it is also used in the treatment of insomnia, fidget, delirium due to high fever, leukaemia and otitis media[10]. Externally it is used to treat various skin problems such as acne, boils, abscesses and burns whilst it is also used as a gargle for mouth and tongue ulcers, swollen gums and toothache[11]. As an eyewash it is used to treat conjunctivitis[11].
The root is harvested in the autumn and used fresh or dried[4].
Usage: A bright yellow pigment found in the roots can be used for dyeing[4].
Can be grown as a ground cover plant in the peat garden[2].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Mid Spring-Late Spring
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Although no specific mention of toxicity has been found for this species, it belongs to a family that contains many species that are mildly toxic and so it is wise to treat this plant with some caution.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.