A Study on the Foreign Drug "Xibaigaguana" (西白噶瓜那) in Qing Dynasty Court Based on Double Evidence

Author：WANG Liu1, ZHAO Yingzhen2, XIAN Yisha3, YAO Ting4, LI Fengyuan4, ZHANG Zilong3,5

Unit：1.The Second Clinical Medical College of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100078, China; 2.School of Nursing, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China; 3.School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China; 4.Department of Court, the Palace Museum, Beijing 100009, China; 5.State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Beijing 107000, China

Quote：引用：王刘，赵英针，鲜伊莎，姚婷，李逢源，张子龙.基于二重证据的清代宫廷外来药物“西白噶瓜那”考[J].中医药导报,2025,31(3):5-9.

DOI：10.13862/j.cn43-1446/r.2025.03.002

PDF： Download PDF

Abstract：

In the archives of the Qing Dynasty Court, a foreign medicine called "Xibaigaguana" was recorded, which was rewarded for treating dysentery. Today, there are still medicinal relics preserved in the Palace Museum. This article combines the actual medicinal materials of the Forbidden City and domestic and foreign literature materials, from the name, original plant, origin, flavor, toxicity, efficacy, history of importation and other aspects of the examination, determined that "Xibaigaguana" is the dry root or rhizome of Carapichea ipecacuanha (Brot.) L. Andersson, a plant native to the Rubiaceae family in South America. It was introduced to the China by the Jesuits of St. Paul's College in Macau during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. It has the efficacy of diaphoresis, reducing phlegm, calming, and inducing vomiting, as well as treating dysentery and diarrhea. It has been included in the modern pharmacopoeias of the United States, Japan, and Europe. In this paper, through the examination of its historical records and modern research, it helps to enrich the drug resources in China, and provides reference for the rational clinical application and the improvement of the quality standard of ipecac.

Key words：Xibaigaguana; ipecac; foreign medicine; palace medicine; dysentery; herbal archaeology

摘要：

清代宫廷档案中记载了一种可以治疗痢疾的外来药物“西白噶瓜那”，在故宫博物院中仍留存有药材文物。结合故宫药材实物与国内外文献资料的二重证据，从名称、基原、产地、性味、毒性、功效、传入历史等多方面进行考证，确定了“西白噶瓜那”为原产于南美洲茜草科植物吐根Carapichea ipecacuanha (Brot.) L. Andersson的干燥根或根茎，在清代康熙时期由澳门圣保禄学院耶稣会士等西方传教士传入我国宫廷之中。其具有发表、化痰、平火安心、催吐的功效，也可以治疗痢疾和泄泻，现代美国、日本、欧洲药典中均有收录。通过对其历史记载考证及现代研究梳理，有助于丰富我国药物资源，为吐根临床合理应用与质量标准的完善提供参考。

关键词： “西白噶瓜那”；吐根；外来药物；宫廷医学；痢疾；本草考证

Release time：2025-12-14

click-through rate：5