Practical
Plants

Bupleurum chinense

Bei Chai Hu

a perennial member of the Bupleurum genus in the family Umbelliferae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Spread
0.6 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves and young shoots - cooked[7][2][4].The new growth in spring and autumn is used[5][6]. It is a good source of rutin[6]. Root - cooked. A famine food, used when all else fails[4][6].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Product or use
Rutin

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Bei chai hu root has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for at least 2,000 years[10]. It is a bitter herb that is used to harmonize the body, balancing the different organs and energies within the body[11]. It strengthens the digestive tract, acts as a tonic for the liver and circulatory system, lowers fevers and has anti-viral effects[10]. The root is alterative, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiperiodic, antipyretic, antiviral, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, haemolytic, hepatic, pectoral, sedative[116, 147, 174. 176, 178, 218, 238, 254]. It is taken internally in the treatment of malaria, blackwater fever, uterine and rectal prolapse, haemorrhoids, sluggish liver, menstrual disorders, abdominal bloating etc[10]. The roots are harvested in the autumn and can be used fresh or dried[10]. The root contains saikosides[11]. These saponin-like substances have been shown to protect the liver from toxicity whilst also strengthening its function, even in people with immune system disorders[11]. These saikosides also stimulate the body's production of corticosteroids and increase their anti-inflammatory affect[11]. The plant is often used in preparations with other herbs to treat the side effects of steroids[8].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antiperiodic
Product or use
Antipyretic
Product or use
Antiviral
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Haemolytic
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The old plant is used as a fuel[5][6].

Product or use
Fuel

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Korea.
Habitat
Grassy areas on hills and mountain slopes in Korea[12].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 8 weeks at 15°c[3]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer or following spring. Division in spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be planted direct into their permanent positions. It is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are well rooted before planting them out in the summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An easily cultivated plant[1], it succeeds in a sunny position in most fertile well-drained soils[3][9][10]. This species is closely related to B. falcatum, and is included in that species by some botanists.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  5. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2

  6. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  8. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  9. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  10. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  11. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. PFAFimport-279

    Unresolved citation

    ↩

Edit this page