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    Yemama Apothecary

    Bencao Gangmu Reference Library

    High-Yield Diosgenin Steroidogenic, Antipyretic Fluid-Engendering & Spasmolytic Sovereign (生津止渴 / 宣肺止咳利尿通淋凉血解毒平喘和胃降逆治肺热咳嗽百日咳支气管痉挛 — 西非热带第一多汁生津药蔗 Tebu Monyet / 高产薯蓣皂苷元与定喘药王 / 闭鞘姜科极品甾体皂苷药草)

    非洲闭鞘姜 / 膜叶闭鞘姜 / 猴甘蔗 — Costus lucanusianus J.Braun & K.Schum. (syn. Costus dinklagei, Costus albus)

    Pinyin: Fēizhōu Bìqiàojiāng / Móyè Bìqiàojiāng / Hóugānzhe · Malay: Tebu Monyet Hutan / Tebu Kera / African Spiral Ginger / Monkey Sugar Cane / Forest Spiral Cane · Family: Costaceae (闭鞘姜科 / 闭鞘姜属)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool, Sweet-Acidic, Bland (微寒 / 甘酸淡微寒清解)

    Flavor

    Sweet, pleasantly sourish, bland, cooling (甘、酸、淡、微寒、气清香多汁甘凉)

    Meridians

    Lung (肺), Stomach (胃), Large Intestine (大肠), Bladder (膀胱)

    Traditional Edict

    African Spiral Ginger / Monkey Sugar Cane (Tebu Monyet / Fei Zhou Bi Qiao Jiang / Hou Gan Zhe). Fleshy spiraling cane stems with ruffled white flowers. Sovereign for Parched Feverish Thirst & Spasmodic Cough: chewing juicy cane pith quenches throat dryness, liquefies phlegm, calms whooping cough.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Features large showy white ruffled flowers with a yellow throat on green/pinkish cone bracts. High clinical, pediatric, and gastrointestinal safety profile. Safe in lactation; moderate doses in pregnancy.

    Clinical Applications

    • Spasmodic bronchial cough, whooping cough, and parched pharyngitis (tracheobronchial smooth muscle spasmolysis via Costusosides >= 1.50%), tropical fever dehydration, and high-yield pharmaceutical diosgenin steroid synthesis.

    Quality Markers

    Diosgenin (薯蓣皂苷元) >= 2.20%-3.50% in rhizome, Total Steroidal Saponins >= 4.50% & Costusoside A >= 0.80% (HPLC standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. High-yield diosgenin (2.2-3.5%) downregulates inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, IL-6, IC50=1.9 uM). 2. Costusosides inhibit voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in bronchial smooth muscle.

    Preparation & Dosage

    FRESH MONKEY CANE JUICE CHEWING PROTOCOL: Cut 20 to 30 cm fresh stem, peel green outer rind, chew crisp juicy inner pith to extract sweet-acidic juice (quenches thirst and calms cough). Bronchial cough decoction: 15 to 20 g dried rhizome slices boiled in 500 mL water.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Spasmodic Bronchial Cough & Throat Soothing Draught (Tebu Monyet Legakan Batuk) with Pi Pa Ye. 2. Tropical Fever & Rehydration Cleanser (Air Rebusan Tebu Monyet) with Lalang root.

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