Pinellia ternata (Araceae)

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Pinellia ternata
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The Pinellia ternata plant species is found in E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea. It is a member of the Araceae family. Some home gardeners know the variety as P. tubifera.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Pinellia ternata
Family:  Araceae
Author:  (Thunb.)Breit.

Known Hazards:  The plant is toxic[147]. This report probably refers to the presence of calcium oxylate. This is toxic and if consumed makes the mouth and digestive tract feel as though hundreds of needles are being stuck into it. However, calcium oxylate is easily destroyed by thoroughly cooking or drying the plant[172].

Mature Height:  0.2   Mature Width:  0.15

Habitat:  Cultivated fields and roadsides all over Japan[58]. Shady and damp grass thickets on mountain sides and stream edges[147].

Medicinal Information: The root is antiemetic, antiphlogistic, expectorant, febrifuge, sialagogue, styptic. Strengthens the spleen[147, 174, 176, 178]. Modern research has shown that this remedy is very effective in controlling nausea and vomiting[238]. It is also an ingredient of a Chinese prescription for removing gallstones without surgery, a process that usually causes severe nausea[238]. The root is also used internally in the treatment of coughs with thin watery phlegm and gastritis[238]. The fresh root is extremely acrid and contains toxins, these are neutralized upon drying or by soaking in tea or vinegar[238]. The root is harvested in the summer and dried for later use, it should not be used fresh[174, 238]. Extracts of the plant have been shown to have analgesic, antiemetic, anticancer and sedative activity[218].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

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