she gan

射干·Rhizoma Belamcandae

Belamcanda Rhizome

Toxic

Toxicity graded by American Dragon.

About she gan

She Gan (射干) is the rhizome of belamcanda, the blackberry lily, recorded as Rhizoma Belamcandae. It is bitter in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Lung channel alone. The catalogue files it among the herbs that clear Heat and relieve toxicity.

Names

Pinyin	she gan
Chinese	射干
Latin Name	Rhizoma Belamcandae
English Name	Belamcanda Rhizome·blackberry lily rhizome·blackberry lily rhizome; belamcanda rhizome
Japanese	Botanpi·yakan
Korean	sagan

Classification

Category: Clear Heat, Relieve Toxicity
Channels: Lung
Flavour: Bitter
Temperature: Cold
Part used: Rhizome
Family: Iridaceae
Species: Belamcanda Chinensis
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Clears Heat, resolves Fire toxin and benefits the throat

Hot, swollen, painful throat from Excess Fire, Fire toxin or Phlegm-Heat obstructing the Upper Jiao
Hoarseness or loss of voice
Sore throat, for which it may be used on its own

Transforms Phlegm, clears the Lungs, directs Lung Qi downward and calms wheezing

Cough and wheezing from Phlegm obstruction, with plentiful thick sputum that is hard to expel and a rattling, blocked feeling in the throat and chest
Lung Heat asthma
Cold-Phlegm obstruction, when combined with warming herbs

Reduces swelling and nodules

Swollen glands and lumps of the neck from accumulated Phlegm and Heat

Combinations

huang qin
Lung Heat with sore throat and cough
huang qin + jie geng
Excess Fire with hoarseness and a painful, swollen throat
shan dou gen
Phlegm-Heat in the throat: a sore, swollen throat and Phlegm that is hard to cough up
jin yin hua + ma bo
Throat Bi.
ma bo + sheng ma + xuan shen
Fire toxin in the throat
xing ren + jie geng
Lung Heat with cough, difficult expectoration and a painful swollen throat
ma huang + xi xin + sheng jiang
Phlegm constricting the chest in Wind-Cold asthma
huang qin + jie geng + gan cao
Profuse Phlegm with sore throat
sang bai pi + jie geng
Cough and dyspnea, the sputum profuse and yellow
xi xin + zhi ban xia + sheng jiang
Cough and dyspnea, the sputum profuse and white or clear

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any	1.5-10 g	—	—	—	—

Cautions

contraindication Loose stools, diarrhea or poor appetite from Spleen deficiency with Cold, which its bitter, cold nature aggravates
caution Give in brief courses for acute Heat and Phlegm patterns rather than continuously
pregnancy Do not use in pregnancy
contraindication A dry, deficiency-type sore throat, or a cough without Phlegm-Heat
caution A sore throat or hoarseness can have serious causes; a qualified practitioner should first assess the pattern
caution Rated toxic in one source