A Flower on the Head

A Flower on the Head

　　The "Four Famous Medicinal Herbs" of Shennongjia

　　They have the effects of promoting blood circulation and stopping bleeding, reducing swelling and relieving pain, dispelling wind and eliminating dampness. They are used for high blood pressure, neurasthenia, dizziness, headaches, and injuries from falls or blows.

　　A Flower on the Head is one of the "Four Famous Medicinal Herbs" of Shennongjia, known for its properties of promoting blood circulation and stopping bleeding, reducing swelling and relieving pain, and dispelling wind and eliminating dampness. It is used to treat high blood pressure, neurasthenia, dizziness, headaches, and injuries from falls or blows. It is a plant of the genus Trillium in the family Liliaceae, specifically Trillium tschonoskii and Trillium kamtschaticum, and its rhizomes and roots are used medicinally. It is harvested in summer and autumn, with stems and leaves removed, cleaned, and dried for use.

　　Trillium is a rare and endangered species, classified as a third-level protected plant in China. Trillium is continuously distributed across East Asia and North America. Due to its unique morphological and tissue characteristics, there are differing opinions within the botanical community regarding its taxonomic classification. Protecting Trillium holds scientific significance. It is recommended that harvesting be strictly prohibited within the jurisdiction of the Shennongjia Nature Reserve, and its living ecological environment be preserved. In other regions, larger plants should be left while smaller ones are harvested, and seeds should be collected for local propagation. Additionally, scientific experiments such as wild-to-cultivated transitions or tissue culture should be conducted, with targeted cultivation efforts to increase resources and ensure medicinal supply.

　　Legend has it that during the Three Kingdoms period of Wei, Shu, and Wu, there were couples in each kingdom who lived in perfect harmony and happiness. Later, war broke out, and the husbands all died on the battlefield, leaving behind three widows who were devastated. To escape the disasters brought by war, they went their separate ways to live in seclusion, each bringing with them the yellow earth from their husbands’ graves as a keepsake. The three widows met in Shennongjia, shared their hardships, and, having endured similar fates, became sworn sisters. They gathered the earth each had brought into one pile and prayed to the heavens daily. Their devotion eventually moved the gods of wind and rain—the Wind God sent a gentle breeze, and the Rain God bestowed fine rain—causing three-leafed grass to grow from the pile of earth. The tears the widows shed onto the grass blades gathered into red beads at the tips of the leaves. Thus, the herb was named A Flower on the Head.