Inula britannica
Xuan Fu Hua
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Inula
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.75 m
- Spread
- 0.5 m
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies, Self
Uses
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.
Xuan Fu Hua is used in Chinese herbalism as a mildly warming expectorant remedy and it is especially suitable where phlegm has accumulated in the chest[7]. The flowers are more commonly used, but the leaves are also used, generally for less serious conditions[7]. The leaf is discutient and vulnerary[5]. The flowers are antibacterial, carminative, cholagogue, deobstruent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, stomachic and tonic[5]. They are used internally in the treatment of bronchial complaints with profuse phlegm, nausea and vomiting, hiccups and flatulence[3][6]. The flowers have an antibacterial action, but this can be destroyed by proteins in the body[3]. The plant is harvested when in flower and can be dried for later use[7]. The root is discutient, resolvent and vulnerary[5]. The plant has been mentioned as a possible treatment for cancer of the oesophagus[5].
- Product or use
- Antibacterial
- Product or use
- Cancer
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Cholagogue
- Product or use
- Deobstruent
- Product or use
- Depurative
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Laxative
- Product or use
- Resolvent
- Product or use
- Stomachic
- Product or use
- Tonic
- Product or use
- Vulnerary
Environment
- Range
- Europe to E. Asia. Formerly naturalized in Britain, but probably now extinct there[2].
- Habitat
- Moist meadows, streamsides, ditches, wet woods etc[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed, it is worthwhile trying a sowing in situ in the spring or the autumn. Division in spring or autumn[1].
Cultivation
Succeeds in a sunny position in any moderately fertile well-drained soil[4]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[6]. The sub-species I. britannica chinensis is the form used medicinally[6].
References
Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148