Pharmaceutical Name:

Rhizoma Bletillae

Botanical Name:

Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb. F.

Common Name:

Bletilla tuber

Source of Earliest Record:

Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The rhizomes are dug in summer or autumn. After the fibrous roots have been removed, the rhizomes are cleaned, boiled in the water, dried in the sun and cut into slices.

Properties and Taste:

Bitter, sweet, astringent and slightly cold

Meridians:

Liver, lung and stomach

Functions:

To stop bleeding
To reduce swelling and promote healing

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Hemorrhages:

a)       Cough with blood due to deficient yin of the lungs.
*Use with Donkey hide gelatin (Ejiao), Lotus node (Oujie) and Loquat leaf (Pipaye).

b)      Vomiting with blood.
*Use with Cuttlefish bone (Wuzeigu) in the formula Wu Ji San.

c)       Hemorrhage due to external injuries.
*Can be applied alone or with the powder of Calcine gypsum (Duanshigao) for external use.

2.     Boils, carbuncles and swelling:

a)       Affected areas with redness, swelling, hot sensation and pain.
*Use with Honeysuckle flower (Jinyinhua), Tendrilled fritillary bulb (Chuanbeimu), Trichosanthes root (Tianhuafen) and Honeylocust thorn (Zaojiaoci) in the formula Neixiao San.

b)       Chronic non-healing ulcers.
*The powder of Bletilla tuber (Baiji) is applied directly on the wounds.

3.     Chapped skin or cracked hands or feet.
*The powder of Bletilla tuber (Baiji) is mixed with sesame oil for external use.

Dosage:

3-10 g

Cautions:

This herb counteracts Sichuan aconite root (Wutou).