Allium macrostemon

Allium macrostemon

　　Allium macrostemon

　　Also known as wild small garlic tuber, wild garlic white, or small-rooted garlic.

　　Ecology: The medicinal part comes from the bulbs of Allium macrostemon and Allium macrostemon var. macrostemon, both belonging to the Liliaceae family, Allium genus. It is a perennial herb with ovoid bulbs, each having 1–2 lateral protuberances. The outer layer is a white membranous tunic that later turns black. The leaves are alternate, narrowly linear, rolled circularly or slightly flattened, tapering to a point, with sheathed bases that wrap around the stem, reaching up to 40 cm in length and 4 mm in width. The scape grows 7–8 months after planting, reaching up to 70 cm tall, bearing an umbel inflorescence composed of many small pink or rose-colored flowers forming a spherical shape. The fruit is an inverted ovate capsule with a notched tip. Sometimes part or all of the inflorescence turns into bulbils, which are covered with purple scales.

　　Growing environment: Fields, grasslands, and wastelands.

　　Medicinal part: Dried underground bulbs, blanched before drying.

　　Distribution: Found in Chengguan, Gaobadian, Zhongcun, Xizhaochuan, Manchuan Pass, NanKuanping, Sehepu, Xiahekou, Hujia Yuan, and various wasteland areas.

　　Properties and functions: Neutral, bitter, warm. Warms the middle energizer, unblocks yang, regulates qi, soothes the chest, dispels cold, and dries dampness.

　　Main indications: Chest pain, chest tightness, angina pectoris, stabbing pain in the ribs, cough, tracheitis, gastritis, and more.