Shè Gān (射干), known in English as Blackberry lily rhizome (Belamcanda chinensis), is a cold, bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Lung channel. Its main action: clears Heat, resolves toxicity, benefits throat.
| Pinyin | Shè Gān (She Gan) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 射干 |
| English | Blackberry lily rhizome |
| Botanical name | Belamcanda chinensis |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Lung |
| Dosage | 3–9g |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; Spleen deficiency |
Actions
- Clears Heat, resolves toxicity, benefits throat
- Transforms phlegm, reduces swelling
Indications
- Sore throat with phlegm-Heat obstruction
- Tonsillitis
- Cough with phlegm-Heat
How to remember Shè Gān
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cold, Bitter: like most Clear heat herbs
- Lung channel: from its action “Transforms phlegm”
Formulas containing Shè Gān
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián
- Huáng Bǎi
- Lóng Dǎn Cǎo
- Zhī Zǐ
- Jīn Yín Huā
- Lián Qiào
- Pú Gōng Yīng
- Tiān Huā Fěn
- Lú Gēn
- Zhú Yè
- Xià Kū Cǎo
- Jué Míng Zǐ
- Kǔ Shēn
- Qín Pí
- Bái Xiān Pí
- Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng
- Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo
- Bǎn Lán Gēn
- Tǔ Fú Líng
- Dì Gǔ Pí
- Qīng Hāo
- Yín Chái Hú
- Hú Huáng Lián
- Mǔ Dān Pí
- Chì Sháo
- Xuán Shēn
- Shuǐ Niú Jiǎo
- Bái Wēi
- Bái Tóu Wēng
- Bài Jiàng Cǎo
- Yú Xīng Cǎo
- Shān Dòu Gēn
- Mǎ Bó
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
- Hé Yè
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Shè Gān?
Shè Gān is cold and bitter.
Which channels does Shè Gān enter?
Shè Gān enters the Lung channel.
What are the actions of Shè Gān?
Clears Heat, resolves toxicity, benefits throat; Transforms phlegm, reduces swelling.
What is Shè Gān used for?
Sore throat with phlegm-Heat obstruction; tonsillitis; cough with phlegm-Heat.
Which formulas contain Shè Gān?
Gān Lù Xiāo Dú Dān.
Practise Shè Gān and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.