Chronic cough, blood in sputum treated with TCM herb lily bulb

What is lily bulb?
Also known as bulbus lilii in west, it refers to the dried fleshy petal-like layers of Lilium lancifolium Thunb., Lilium brownii F.E.Brown var. viridulum Baker, or Lilium pumilum DC. In China it is cultivated across the country, especially in Hunan and Zhejiang provinces. Autumn is the best time for harvest and traditionally the growers repeat the unchanged procedures year after year – to collect, wash, scale, slightly scald, and dry.

It is one kind of perennial herb, bulbus depressed globose, and stems erect. Lilium lancifolium is orange red and dotted with purple black spots; Lilium brownii is white but brown in back; Lilium pumilum is cardinal red or aubergine but without spots.

Medicinally, the honey-fried one is oblong in shape, 2 to 5cm long, 1 to 2 wide, and 1.3 to 4mm thick in middle. Surface is white, light brownish-yellow or purplish, with a few white vascular bundles. The whole body is slightly undulate and curved inward, with slight sharp top, wide base, and thin edge. The texture is hard and crisp, with flat keratinous section. And it is odorless and tastes slightly bitter.

What are lily bulbs used for?
Based on theories of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), it is sweet, slightly cold in nature and covers meridians of heart and lung. It is capable of nourishing Yin and moistening lung, which is used for indications like chronic cough due to yin deficiency, and blood in sputum. And it clears heart heat, and calms spirit, which is applied for remnant heat of febrile diseases, restlessness, deficient irritability and palpitations, too much dreams and Insomnia, and wandering mind. Usual dosage is 10 to 30g in decoction. By the way, unprocessed form is better for clearing heart heat while honey-fried form is better for moistening lung.