Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae (川貝 chuān bèi)
Ingredient Name: Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae, tendrilled fritillary bulb, fritillary bulb
Traditional Chinese Name: 川貝 (chuān bèi)
Nature: Cooling
Targets: Heart & Lungs
These are a popular and often used herb in TCM for coughs. They look similar to cooked barley (so be sure to label properly)! It’s a very common ingredient that you can buy in Asia, but not so common in North America.
What are fritillary bulbs?
The dried flower bulb of the Fritillaria plant (which is a perennial herb) that contains about 100 species of this bulbous plant. The exact plant is the Fritillariae Cirrhosae, which is one of these species. This is a recognized official drug in Chinese medicine and is used commercially in the production of a popular cough medicine called “Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa (Herbal Formula) Cough Syrup” which many kids in Hong Kong (and Canada if you have HK parents) grew up with.
The bulbs are often white-beige in color and around 1-2 cm in diameter and are very light weight. Various forms of this herb can be found as dried (as pictured above), powdered or cream.
These bulbs are tasteless in flavor and will absorb the flavors of the soup or tea you make them in. They will float when you first drop the into the soup and will eventually sink to the bottom, but won’t dissolve and remain relatively whole in the soup.
How do you prepare them?
For soups and teas, I’ll drop them dried into soups or teas. Some people will rinse all their Chinese herbs or soak them in warm water for 10 minutes. This is optional.
Where can I buy it and cost?
- Most herbal shops in both Hong Kong and Canada will carry this
- Wet marts in Hong Kong will also sometimes carry this
- Not commonly found in western supermarkets (even the Asian supermarkets in Toronto don’t carry this).
- These can be expensive herbs and range from $20 CAD per 100g to more.
- For this herb, I will always buy them face to face with my herbalist due to the cost and importance of this herb. I’m looking for high quality from a reliable source.
- Be sure to buy from a reputable source, check that the bulbs are full and not discolored.
Any benefits?
- This is considered one of the power herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicines for coughs and removing phlegm.
- It helps cool the body, clearing hot, sticky phlegm
- It is very effective for clearing heat in the lungs (often caused by Yin deficiency)
Any precautions?
Be sure to buy from a reputable source
- Avoid using this if the body is cold (cold-damp or excess yin)
Looking to build your basic Chinese Soup Pantry?
Check it out in my video to learn more!
Not very expensive? I believe on the contrary that this is way way expensive. It costs $25.50 US for a bag of 1.33 oz. but I was told that its very good for getting rid of cough, and my lil daughter needs it. I’ll update the effect afterward.