Sweet, slightly bitter and slightly cold,The herbs is sweet and slightly bitter in flavour, slightly cold in nature and acts on the heart, stomach and lung channels. Being sweet, cold and moist in nature for nourishing Yin to clear heat and promoting the generation of the body fluid to moisten dryness, the herb mainly clears heart from the lung and stomach, moistens dryness of the lung, nourishes stomach-yin, dispels heat from the heart and relieve vexation. It is indicated for dry cough due to impairment of Yin caused by dryness of the lung, for thirst due to consumption of the body fluid caused by febrile diseae, for excessive heat due to Yin deficiency, for vexation and restlessness, and for other syndromes.
Effects: Nourishing Yin, moistening the lung, tonifying the stomach, promoting the production of the body fluid, dispelling heat from the heart and relieving vexation.
Classical Note:
Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: "Sweet and mild in flavour, it is used most often in cases where stagnation of vital energy in the chest and abdomen is harming the organs of the body through surfeit; where blockage of the mai channels in the stomach; and in cases of physical weakness and of loss of vitality."
Opinions on the Properties of Herbs: "Used as a subsidiary ingredient in treatment. A remedy for hot poison, chronic thirst, edema, and dropsy, expelling surplus fluid, countering flaccidity of the heart, alleviating suppurations of the skin, and discharging turbid semen. Indicated in cases of stagnation of vital energy in the chest and abdomen; skin congestion; blurred vision; fullness of heart; and consumptive diseases manifesting in feverish symptoms and coughs."
Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao: "A cure for the five impairments which affect the heart, the liver, the spleen, the lung and the kidney; and for the seven damages... It calms and soothes the spirit, quenches thirst, counters weight gain, treats those diseases bringing symptoms of high fever and dementia, and alleviates coughing."
Kai Bao Ben Cao: "Its flavour is sweet and mild, and its nature, although slightly cold, is not poisonous. Use to counter unaccustomed feelings of heaviness, blurred vision, fullness of heart, and against consumptive diseases, marked by fever and coughing, which arise from depleted energy of internal organs and chronic thirst. Alleviates vomiting; counters flaccidity of the muscles and coldness at the extremities; strengthens Ying-energy and promotes spermatogenesis; protects against polyorexia; raises vital spirits, settles the energy of the lungs; calms the five internal organs; helps the body to lay down healthy fat; improves the complexion; brings male offspring."
