Black Water Fritillary Bulb

Black Water Fritillary Bulb

　　Fritillary bulbs are a precious medicinal herb known for nourishing the lungs, reducing inflammation, relieving coughs, and dissolving phlegm. The harvesting season for fritillary bulbs is in mid-June each year. When purchasing, look for small, plump, white-colored bulbs with a pointed tip and round base—especially those about the size of peas, commonly known as “pearl bulbs.”

　　Fritillary bulbs grow in the alpine meadows of Heishui County at an altitude of around 3,500 meters. The fritillarine and fritillary alcohol contained in the bulbs can dilate the bronchial smooth muscles and reduce secretions. For persistent coughs and difficulty expectorating phlegm, two home remedies can be effective: stir-fried fritillary bulbs with honey (10 grams each), or steamed pear (150 grams) with fritillary bulbs (10 grams). Authentic bulbs are mostly conical in shape, with a pointed tip, a broad base that can sit flat, a brownish-yellow dot-like root scar at the center of the bottom, and two scale lobes of different sizes embracing each other without an opening—commonly described as “a moon cradled in the arms” and poetically called “the Goddess of Mercy Sitting on a Lotus Throne.” High-quality bulbs are small and uniform in size, with a powdery white fracture and clean white color (first-grade bulbs have over 4,800 bulbs per kilogram).