Blackberry lily, also known as Belamcanda Chinensis, leopard lily, or She Gan in Pinyin, is an herb with the line of beauty. It is often cultivated for the purpose of garden landscaping or grown as ornamental potted plants. To many people's surprise, it turns out to be also a medicinal plant and the main medicinal part is its rhizome. Actually this Chinese herb was first collected by Shennong Bencao Jing (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) and classified as a low-grade drug because it is considered slightly toxic. And now it is still very popular and commonly used for the treatment of a variety of diseases, such as sore throat, Tonsillitis, Bronchitis, malaria, cough, Asthma, Mastitis, acute hepatitis, Gonorrhea, and the like. In addition, recent studies also show that it is with anticancer properties so that it is also ideal for treating throat cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and more.

When used as medicine, it mainly refers to the dried rhizome of Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC, which is a species in the Iris family (Iridaceae). Being the only member in the genus Belamcanda, it was recategorized into the genus Iris and assigned a new name as Iris domestica in year 2005 because of the molecular DNA sequence evidence. For that reason, this ornamental plant obtains many synonyms, such as Pardanthus chinensis (L.) Ker Gawl.), Iris chinensis Curtis, Morea chinensis, Ixia chinensis L., Gemmingia chinensis (L.) Kuntze, and Belamcanda punctata Moench. And other common names also include Belamcanda Rhizome, Rhizoma Belamcandae, leopard flower, Shegan, Freckle Face, and so on. 

BLACKBERRY LILY HEALTH BENEFITS 
This is not only a wild ornamental plant, but also a medicinal plant with extensive medicinal uses. It is a commonly used drug for curing sore throat since is it clears heat, removes toxicity, reduces swelling, and relieve sore throat and cough. But as far as sore throat concerned, Sophora Subprostrata (Shan Dou Gen) has a better healing power. That is the reason why subprostrate is preferred in severe cases of a sore throat. Although belamcanda rhizome has a milder property on reducing the swelling, it has an expertise on eliminating phlegm. That's to say, if the sore throat is accompanied with heavy heat-phlegm syndrome or accumulation of heat-phlegm, it is the perfect option since it can not only clear the throat by remove phlegm but also bring relief to the painful red swollen throat. What’s more, it is good at clearing away the lung-heat and making expectoration easy. No wonder it is frequently used to treat coughs with abundance of phlegm, regardless of cold and heat nature.

Blackberry Lily

BLACKBERRY LILY RHIZOME ON HERBAL REMEDIES
The Chinese Materia Medica summarizes that it is bitter in flavor and cold and toxic in nature. It covers meridians of lung and liver. Important functions are removing heat and toxic substance, expelling phlegm, relieving sore throat, breaking stasis, and dissipating binds. Main blackberry lily uses and indications include swelling and pain in throat, cough and asthma with accumulation of phlegm, scrofula, tuberculosis, swollen liver and spleen, abdominal mass, and carbuncle and boils. Recommended dosage is from 5 to 10 grams in decoction. Or it can be used in the forms of blackberry lily flower essence, extract, pills, powder, fresh juice, and so on.

1) She Gan Ma Huang Tang from Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer). It is formulated with Ma Huang (Ephedra), Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger root), Xi Xin (Herba Asari), Zi Wan (Radix Asteris), Kuan Dong Hua (Tussilago Farfara), Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis), Da Zao (Jujube Fruit), and Ban Xia (Pinellia) to cure cold-phlegm cough and wheezing accompanied with excessive thin clear sputum.

2) Bie Jia Jian Wan from Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer). It is matched with Bie Jia (Soft Turtle Shell), Huang Qin (Scutellaria Baicalensis), Chai Hu (Bupleurum), Da Huang (rhubarb), Shao Yao (Peony Root), Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi), Ren Shen (Ginseng), Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), etc. to heal swollen liver and spleen, hyperplasia of mammary glands, amenorrhea, and more. In this formula, belamcanda rhizome acts as a secondary drug to enhance the efficacy of promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, which now is seldom mentioned since it is quite weak but it does exist. For the same reason, pregnant women should stay away from it.