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    Heat-Clearing, Fire-Purging, Pharyngeal-Soothing & Diphtheria Sovereign (清热解毒 / 消痰利咽散结消肿开音药)

    射干 / 乌扇 / 扁竹根 / 凤翼 — Belamcanda chinensis (L.) Redouté (syn. Iris domestica)

    Pinyin: Shègān / Wūshàn · Malay: Pokok Kipas / Bunga Kipas / Kipas-kipas · Family: Iridaceae (鸢尾科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cold (寒), Slightly Toxic in raw state (微毒)

    Flavor

    Bitter (苦)

    Meridians

    Lung (肺), Liver (肝)

    Traditional Edict

    Raven Fan (Wu Shan / Pokok Kipas). Equitant fan-like sword leaves. Sovereign king of throat remedies. Drains fire, clears lung heat, transforms thick phlegm, cures laryngeal diphtheria (Hou Bi), and restores lost voice.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Strong bitter cold nature; overdose causes nausea and diarrhea. STRICTLY CONTRAINDICATED in pregnancy (potent descending emmenagogue) and cold diarrhea without heat signs.

    Clinical Applications

    • Acute purulent follicular tonsillitis, laryngeal diphtheria, vocal cord hoarseness/aphonia in singers, bronchial asthma with thick sticky phlegm (She Gan Ma Huang Tang), and oral stomatitis.

    Quality Markers

    Tectoridin (鸢尾苷) >= 3.00%, Tectorigenin & Irisflorentin (Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Tectoridin is metabolized into active tectorigenin, potently inhibiting NF-kB and MAPK to downregulate TNF-a and COX-2 in vocal cords. 2. Irisflorentin downregulates MUC5AC, thinning tenacious phlegm. 3. Inhibits RSV and Streptococcus pyogenes.

    Preparation & Dosage

    Dried sliced rhizome in decoction: 3-9 g daily (do not exceed 10 g). THE CLASSICAL SOVEREIGN ASTHMA FORMULA (She Gan Ma Huang Tang): Compound 6 g Belamcanda with Ephedra, Ginger, Asarum, and Aster tataricus. Honey-simmered syrup for voice.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Vocal Cord Voice-Restoring Decoction with Terminalia chebula (He Zi) and Platycodon. 2. Nanyang Pharyngeal Fire-Extinguishing Tea with Lonicera japonica and Luo Han Guo.

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only