Fritillaria (Fritillaria cirrhosa)
Synopsis of fritillaria
Fritillaria is a genus of perennial plants in the lily family (Liliaceae), with over 100 species distributed across temperate regions of Europe and Asia. In herbal medicine, the most commonly used varieties are Fritillaria cirrhosa, Fritillaria thunbergii, and Fritillaria ussuriensis, whose bulbs are harvested, dried, and used as medicinal ingredients. The dried bulbs, known as “Chuan Bei Mu” (from F. cirrhosa) and “Zhe Bei Mu” (from F. thunbergii), contain alkaloids such as peimine and peiminine, which have antitussive, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties.
In modern herbal and integrative medicine, Fritillaria is used primarily for respiratory support. It helps to soothe dry or phlegmy coughs, clear lung heat, reduce inflammation, and dissolve mucus. It is commonly found in syrups, lozenges, or decoctions and is often included in formulations for bronchitis, laryngitis, chronic cough, tuberculosis, and even early-stage lung cancer support. Chuan Bei Mu is milder and often used for dry, irritating coughs with Yin deficiency, while Zhe Bei Mu is better for thick phlegm and heat-based conditions.
Fritillaria extracts are also being studied for their antioxidant and cytotoxic activity, with early research suggesting potential benefits in cancer-related therapies, particularly for lung and breast cancer, due to their effects on inflammation and abnormal cell growth.
Historical Use
Fritillaria bulbs have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for over 2,000 years. Referenced in classical texts such as the Shennong Bencao Jing (Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica), the bulbs were described as bitter, slightly cold, and entering the Heart and Lung meridians. They were prized for their ability to clear heat, moisten the lungs, transform phlegm, and stop coughs.
Chuan Bei Mu was often cooked into pear soup or honeyed syrups, used as a gentle remedy for dry coughs, hoarseness, and throat irritation—especially in the elderly or those with chronic lung conditions. Zhe Bei Mu, by contrast, was used in more robust, clearing formulas for acute infections, abscesses, and phlegm-heat in the lungs. It was also incorporated into topical remedies for skin swellings and nodules.
In Korean and Japanese traditional medicine, Fritillaria had similar applications and was often combined with herbs like platycodon, licorice root, and honeysuckle for respiratory infections and sore throats.
Though less common in Western herbalism, Fritillaria’s documented efficacy has brought it into modern integrative and Eastern-Western fusion practices, particularly in respiratory care. Its continued use reflects a refined herbal tradition built on thousands of years of observation and clinical application.
Fritillaria is used for these health conditions
Adenitis (Traditional)
Asthma (Traditional)
Bronchitis (Traditional)
Congestion (bronchial) (Traditional)
Congestion (lungs) (Traditional)
Cough (damp) (Traditional)
Cough (dry) (Traditional)
Cough (general) (Traditional)
Cough (spastic) (Traditional)
Inflammation (Traditional)
Sore Throat (Traditional)
Tuberculosis (Traditional)
Wheezing (Traditional)
fritillaria is used to support these body systems
Bronchials (Traditional)
Immune System (Traditional)
Lungs (Traditional)
Mucus Membranes (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)
Sinuses (Traditional)
Products containing fritillaria
Nature's Sunshine Breathe Activator TCM (formerly Breathe E-Z)
Nature's Sunshine Chinese TCM Positive Pack
