Lu Gen - Phragmitis communis

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Lu Gen
 
 Latin
Rhizoma Phragmitis communis
 Introduction Back to Top
Rhizoma Phragmitis Communis is the fresh or dried rhizome of Phragmites communes Trin. (Fam. Gramineae). The drug is collected all the year round, removed from buds, fibrous root and membranaceous leaf. It is used in fresh or dried in the sun.
 Western medical Back to Top
The herb is indicated in the treatment of vomiting, acute bronchitis, pulmonary abscess, diabetes and urinary tract infections.

 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Clears and discharges the Lung and Stomach, generates body onload="highlight();" Fluid and quenches thirst.
  • Properties: Sweet, cold.
  • Channels entered: Lung and Stomach.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
The herb contains coixol, protein, fat, carbohydrate and asparagines.

 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Influence over nervous system

lu gen had sedative effect which could reduce the spontaneous activities in mice. It also had antiemetic effect. And it could lower normal body onload="highlight();" temperature in rats, having antifebrile effect on the fever caused by pyretogenic substances.

Effects on digestive system

The furaldehyde contained in lu gen at the dosage of 507mg/m3 could lead to hepatic fatty degeneration.

Effects on respiratory system

Animal experiments proved that asparagines had quite strong anti-tussive effect.

Effects on immune system

Polysaccharide had significant anticancer effect.

 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Vomiting

Fresh lu gen 60g, zhu ru 30g, jing mi 15g, sheng jiang 9g, water decoction. The method had good effect on vomiting due to Stomach heat.

Acute bronchitis

lu gen, bai mao gen, si gua gen, 60g each, water decoction, taken in three times. The method could be used to treat acute bronchitis.

Pulmonary abscess

lu gen, jin yin hua, 30g each; dong gui zi 12g; xing ren 9g, yi yi ren 15g, jie geng 9g, water decoction. The method had quite good effect on pulmonary abscess.

Diabetes

Juice of fresh lu gen 60g, di gu pi 15g, tian hua fen 10g, huang lian 6g, huang jing 6g, water decoction, taken in two times. The method had good effect on thirst and frequent urination caused by diabetes.

Urinary tract infection

lu gen 30g, (fresh one 60g), tong cao 6g, bai mao gen 15g, che qian cao 10g, hu zhang 15g, chai hu 12g, water decoction, taken in two times. The method could be used treat strangury due to Heat, difficult and painful urination.

 
 References Back to Top

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998