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Common Name:

General Information

Coptis japonica is a Evergreen Perennial up to 0.22 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials..

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.

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - Japan.

Habitat

Woods in mountains all over Japan[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.22 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a light moist humus-rich slightly acidic soil with a northerly aspect or light shade[, ].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The root is a pungent, very bitter, cooling herb that controls bacterial and viral infections, relaxes spasms, lowers fevers and stimulates the circulation[]. It is locally analgesic and anaesthetic[] and is also anti-inflammatory and stomachic. It is used in the treatment of intestinal catarrh[, , ], dysentery, enteritis, high fevers, inflamed mouth and tongue, conjunctivitis etc[].
The root is harvested in the autumn and can be used fresh or dried[].

Other Uses

Can be grown as a ground cover plant in the peat garden[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in an ericaceous compost[]. Seal the pot in a polythene bag until germination takes place, which is usually within 1 - 6 months at 10°c[]. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible. Four weeks cold stratification may be beneficial[]. 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[].