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Common Name: Hu Huang Lian

General Information

Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.12 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Himalayas from Nepal to Tibet and western China.

Habitat

Alpine grassland and gravelly areas at elevations of 3600 - 4400 metres in W Sichuan, S Xizang and NW Yunnan[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.12 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. However, judging by its native range, it is likely to succeed outdoors at least in the milder areas of the country.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The dried rhizome is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiperiodic, cathartic (in large doses), cholagogue, laxative (in smaller doses), stomachic and bitter tonic[, ]. The root contains a number of very bitter glucosides including kutkin and picrorhizin[]. It also contains apocynin, which is powerfully anti-inflammatory and reduces platelet aggregation[]. In trials, the rhizome was shown to boost the immune system and to have a specific action against the parasie Leishmania donovani, which causes the tropical parasitic disease called leishmaniasis[].
The rhizome has a very beneficial effect upon the liver and digestive system and is used in the treatment of a wide range of conditions including fevers, constipation, dyspepsia and jaundice[]. It is also often used in the treatment of scorpion stings and snake bites[]. There is also some evidence that the rhizome can be of help in the treatment of bronchial asthma and a number of auto-immune diseases such as psoriasis and vitiligo[], whilst it has also been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels and reduce coagulation time. The rhizome is gathered in the autumn and dried for later use[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species. It is likely that the best way of propagating from seed is to sow it as soon as it is ripe, preferably in a cold frame or greenhouse. If this is not possible, sow the seed in late winter or early spring in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out in the summer.
Division of the rhizome in the autumn or spring.