Basic Habitat/Botany:

Ledebouriella is an herbaceous perennial cone-shaped plant, belonging to the family Umbelliferae, a family of aromatic flowering plants. It can grow to be 6 to 12 inches tall. It is gray, dotted with raised scars, and wrinklish. The bark is brownish and cracked. The roots are yellowish in color.

Ledebouriella is cultivated in the Heilong province of Northeast China. It likes desert slopes and dry steppes.

Parts Most Frequently Used: Root

Flavors/Temps: Sweet, Pungent, Slightly Warm

Caution: Considered safe. Traditionally not used with ginger (Zingiberis officinalis), black false hellebore (Veratum nigrum), or dioscorea (Dioscoreae hypoglaucae). It is not generally used to treat Parkinson’s disease, a condition associated with Internal Wind.

History/Folklore: Ledebouriella is an herb that has been used in Eastern Oriental medicine for thousands of years. Beyond this herbs ability for treating cold symptoms such as sore throats, fevers, and aching muscles. The herbs sweet and pungent tastes associate it with disorders identified in Oriental medicine with the Liver, Spleen, and Urinary Systems. It is considered excellent at Expelling Wind and Damp which are both identified as External Pathogic Factors in Oriental medicine. The herb Clears Wind which in turn induces sweating helping to treat cold symptoms. Studies have shown it can help lower fevers for up to 2 hours with a single dose.

Ledebouriella can also be used externally to treat itching and inflamed skin. It is used for treating eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.

In Oriental medicine, ledebouriella is considered a mild antipyretic with a primary function of dispersing Wind. Combined with astragalus it can be used to help build immunity and Qi (Energy).

In Oriental medicine, ledebouriella is said to comparatively penetrate more deeply than Jing Jie (Schizonepeta tenuifolia) which tends to treat ailments that remain at skin level. Ledebouriella reaches the muscles and tendons and the herb Qiang Huo (Notoptergium) is said to penetrate more deeply than ledebouriella, to the bones and tendons. Ledebouriella is considered less drying than other expelling herbs.

This herbs contains polysaccharides that are like those found in green tea, only more powerful. These compounds are powerful antioxidants that help heal and prevent free radicals from damaging DNA and causing disease.

Ledebouriella is typically used in combination with other herbs. For example, it blends nicely with ligusticum and angelica for helping to build immunity. A famous cold remedy, called Yin Chiao, includes ledebouriella with other herbal ingredients known for helping to treat colds at the early stages of invasion.

A dose of 3 to 6 grams of ledebouriella is typically recommended.

The seeds can be made into an essential oil used within lotions and skin products to treat itchy, red, and inflamed skin conditions and dermatitis.