This product is the mature seed of the annual twining herb Hyacinth Bean (Dolichos lablab L.) of the legume family. It is mainly produced in Jiangsu, Henan, Anhui, Zhejiang, and other regions. The seeds are harvested when the fruits mature in autumn, then peeled or directly sun-dried. They can be used raw or stir-fried.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Sweet, slightly warm. act on spleen and stomach channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Strengthening the spleen, resolving dampness, and relieving summer heat.

bubble_chart Indications

1. This product can invigorate the spleen and resolve dampness, and is used for spleen deficiency with excessive dampness, leading to impaired transportation and transformation, manifesting as reduced appetite, loose stools, or diarrhea, as well as spleen deficiency with downward flow of turbid dampness, resulting in excessive leucorrhea. It is often combined with Ginseng, White Atractylodes Rhizome, Poria, etc., to achieve the effects of strengthening the spleen, stopping diarrhea, and reducing leucorrhea.
2. It is used for vomiting and diarrhea caused by summerheat dampness. It can invigorate the spleen, resolve dampness, and relieve summerheat while harmonizing the middle. For example, in Qianjin Fang, it is used alone by decocting with water to treat vomiting and diarrhea caused by summerheat dampness. It can also be combined with Chinese Mosla, Magnolia Bark, etc., such as in Chinese Mosla decoction.
3. Additionally, for vomiting due to food poisoning, the fresh product was traditionally ground and mixed with water to extract the juice for consumption, which has the effects of removing toxins and alleviating vomiting.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Yaoxing Bencao: "Relieves all plant and herb toxins, effective when chewed raw or boiled for external application."
2. Bencao Tujing: "Mainly treats leukorrhea in women. Also neutralizes alcohol toxicity and relieves pufferfish poisoning."
3. Bencao Gangmu: "Stops diarrhea, alleviates summer heat, warms the spleen and stomach, eliminates dampness-heat, and relieves consumptive thirst."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take, 10-30g. For invigorating the spleen and stopping diarrhea, it should be stir-fried; for relieving summer heat and removing toxins, it should be used raw.

Contains protein, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, vitamin B₁, B₂, vitamin C, niacin, pantothenic acid, tyrosinase, etc. In addition, it also contains stigmasterol, phospholipids, sucrose, hemagglutinin AB, etc. (Hemagglutinin is a harmful protein that can be destroyed by high temperatures, so it should be fully heated when consumed).

bubble_chart Supplementary Medicinals

Hyacinth Bean Coat: The dried seed coat of Hyacinth Bean. Its properties and effects are similar to those of Hyacinth Bean, but its ability to strengthen the spleen is slightly weaker. However, it does not cause stagnation and is more inclined to relieve summerheat and resolve dampness. It is mainly used to treat summerheat dampness with vomiting and diarrhea, as well as beriberi and edema. Decoction, dosage 5-10g.

Hyacinth Bean Flower: The flower of Hyacinth Bean. Its medicinal properties are sweet, bland, and neutral. It functions to relieve summerheat and resolve dampness. It is commonly used for summerheat dampness diarrhea and leukorrhea. Decoction, dosage 5-10g.