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Niu Bang Zi (牛蒡子), the fruit of burdock, disperses wind-heat, benefits the throat, vents rashes and resolves toxic swellings; it also moistens the Intestines.
Latin / Pharmaceutical Name
Arctium lappa (Fructus Arctii)
Common English Name
Burdock seed
Taste
Acrid, bitter
Temperature
Cold
Channels Entered
Lung, Stomach
Actions & Functions
- Disperses wind-heat and benefits the throat
- Vents rashes (measles)
- Clears heat and resolves toxicity (swellings, mumps)
Indications
Wind-heat with sore, swollen throat and cough; incomplete expression of measles; and mumps and toxic swellings.
Dosage
6-12 g in decoction.
Common Combinations
With Bo He and Jie Geng for wind-heat sore throat.
Cautions & Contraindications
Avoid in diarrhoea from Spleen deficiency, as it moistens the Intestines.