Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
大花田菁 / 木田菁 / 慢条花 / 鸟花树 / 蝴蝶花树 — Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers. (syn. Aeschynomene grandiflora)
Pinyin: Dàhuā Tiánjīng / Mùtiánjīng / Niǎohuāshù · Malay: Turi / Bunga Turi / Pokok Turi / Agati · Family: Fabaceae (豆科 / 蝶形花亚科)
Energetics
Cool to Cold (寒 / 微凉 / 甘寒)
Flavor
Bitter, sweet, astringent, bland (苦、甘、涩、平)
Meridians
Liver (肝), Stomach (胃), Lung (肺), Large Intestine (大肠)
Traditional Edict
Hummingbird Tree (Turi / Bunga Turi / Da Hua Tian Jing). Colossal sickle-curved white and ruby papilionaceous flowers mimicking hummingbirds. Sovereign for healing oral thrush (Seriawan / canker sores), restores night blindness (high Vitamin A), boosts breastmilk.
Cautions & Contraindications
- Always remove central bitter staminal column before cooking flowers. High culinary and pediatric safety profile. Safe in lactation. Contraindicated in spastic constipation.
Clinical Applications
- Recurrent aphthous stomatitis and pediatric oral thrush (Candida albicans), nutritional night blindness and xerophthalmia, acute infectious dysentery, and alcohol-induced gastric injury.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Condensed tannins and grandiflorasides precipitate proteins over canker sores, sealing ulcers in 24h. 2. High b-carotene regenerates retinal rhodopsin in rods for night vision. 3. Gastroprotective anti-ulcer action.
Preparation & Dosage
THE SOVEREIGN BUNGAL TURI ORAL APHTHOUS MOUTHWASH: 30 g fresh flowers (stamens removed) or 15 g dried bark boiled in 300 mL water with salt for 10 min; swished over canker sores 3-4x daily. Blanched culinary Ulam: 100 g fresh flowers in salads/soups.
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Oral Aphthous & Pediatric Thrush Duo with Psidium guajava (Guava leaf). 2. Retinal Brightening & Night Blindness Soup with Lycium barbarum (Goji) and Liver.
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only