Witnessed by: TCM
Chinese lobelia (Lobelia chinensis), of the Campanulaceae family. Small creeping perennial of damp ground and paddy margins; native range: wet fields and ditches across southern and eastern China. Globally recognized as ban bian lian (半邊蓮) in Chinese, and half-edge lotus, creeping lobelia in English. The part used is whole plant with root. Slender rooting stems with narrow leaves and pale one-sided flowers, faintly acrid.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
CHINESE LOBELIA
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Chinese lobelia
- Scientific name
- Lobelia chinensis Lour.
- Family
- Campanulaceae
Form
- Part used
- whole plant with root
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- pungent
Temperature
- TCM
- neutral
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Heart · Small Intestine · Lung
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- clears heat, resolves toxicity, promotes urination, reduces edema
Cautions
- Contraindications
- caution in edema from deficiency; not indicated where there is no heat or toxin
- Toxicity
- no significant toxicity in normal use
This is the card. Sign in for the full four-tradition entry — the aligned TCM · Ayurveda · Western · Unani reading, actions, dosing and cautions.