Chen Yuhang, Guo Qiaosheng, Wang Chengya
Institute of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2010 Jan;35(2):242-6. doi: 10.4268/cjcmm20100228.
To investigate the herbal medicine of Prunella vulgaris by textual researches, and provide a theoretical basis for clinical medication, exploitation and protection of wild P. vulgaris resources.
Textual research on medicinal works of past dynasties and field work were adopted.
The natural distributions of P. vulgaris were concentrated distribution in Sichuan province, Huaihe river basin, and Middle-Lower Yangtze river valley in Chinese history. The indications of P. vulgaris in ancient and modern times were basically identical. While there were difference between the medicinal parts, harvest period and processing methods existed difference between ancient and modern.
Three periods that whole grass of P. vulgaris as medicinal parts (from late Ming dynasty to late Qing dynasty and early stage of Republic of China), both whole grass and spicas as medicinal parts (from mid-term Republic of China to 1963), and the semi-maturity or maturity of spicas as medicinal parts (from 1963 to today) existed. The processing method for medicinal parts of P. vulgaris adopted sun drying and shady drying in ancient China, but only the sun drying was only used in modern times.
通过文献考证对夏枯草进行本草研究，为临床用药及夏枯草野生资源的开发与保护提供理论依据。
采用历代医药著作考证及实地调研相结合的方法。
历史上夏枯草自然分布集中于四川、淮河流域及长江中下游流域；古今夏枯草功效主治基本相同，但药用部位、采收期及炮制方法古今存在差异。
夏枯草药用部位经历了全草入药（明末至清末及民国初期）、全草与果穗入药（民国中期至1963年）、果穗半成熟或成熟入药（1963年至今）三个时期；古代夏枯草药用部位炮制方法采用晒干和阴干，现代仅采用晒干。
