Medicinals
niú bàng zǐ / 牛蒡子 / 牛蒡子 / arctium [seed];
Latin pharmacognostic name: Arctii Fructus
Alternate English names: burdock [seed]; great burdock [seed]
Alternate Chinese names: 鼠黏子 shǔ nián zǐ; 大力子 dà lì zǐ; 蝙蝠刺 biān fú cì; 毛然然子 máo rán rán zǐ; 黑风子 hēi fēng zǐ; 毛锥子 máo zhuī zǐ; 黏苍子 nián cāng zǐ; 鼠尖子 shǔ jiān zǐ; 牛蒡 niú bàng; 恶实 è shí; 鼠粘子 shǔ nián zi
Origin: Plant
Use: medicinal
Category: Exterior-resolving agents / Cool acrid exterior-resolving agents
Properties: Acrid, bitter; cold.
Channel entry: lung and stomach channels.
Indications:
- Disperses wind-heat and disinhibits the throat: Common cold, taking the form of wind-heat exterior patterns or warm heat defense-aspect patterns, with painful red swollen throat, possibly accompanied by cough with inhibited expectoration of phlegm.
- Outthrusts papules: Initial-stage measles failing to erupt.
- Resolves toxin and disperses swelling: Toxin swelling of welling-abscesses and
sore s; mumps; throat impediment. - Additional actions: Niú bàng zǐ has an intestine-lubricating effect as well, although many core texts do not list this as a primary action.
Dosage & Method:
Oral: 3–10g in decoctions, sometimes crushed before use. It can be stir-fried to reduce its cold nature.
Warning:
Use with care in patients with sloppy stool due to qì vacuity or vacuity cold.
Product Description:
This fruit is ovate, but slightly twisted, in shape, and roughly 6 mm long. The diameter in the middle is about 3 mm. The exterior surface is grayish brown with a slightly paler spot at the tip, and a small indentation at the other, broader end. It bears protuberant longitudinal wrinkles. The outer skin is hard and contains two white oily seeds.
Quality:
The best
Product Area:
Sìchuān, Húběi, Héběi, and Zhèjiāng.