Warm Herbs that Stop Cough and Wheezing

Xìng Rén

Armeniacae Semen

(sometimes called Ku Xing Ren,“bitter apricot seed”)

Apricot Seed

Taste: Bitter, sl. toxic

Temp: Sl Warm

Channels: Lung, LI



Actions:



• Stops cough and wheeze; any kind of cough: chronic, acute, hot or cold, but not so good for a really phlegmy cough, because it is moistening (or combine with Ma Huang)

• Moistens intestines; for constipation of dry type; apricot oil 35-50%

• Because draining, not considered appropriate for Qi and Yin deficient cough, but I think it would be fine, combined with Yin tonics like Mai Men Dong



Dose: 3-9 g

Contra: Xing Ren is toxic and the dosage should be carefully controlled. As few as 10 kernels can be lethal for children. See Bensky for sx of overdose. Cooking, removal of outer coating, and mixing with sugar, all can reduce toxicity. If OD occurs, emetics (syrup of ipecac) or activated charcoal should be given. Caution with infants and in cases of diarrhea. Keep out of reach of children. Also, people with almond allergies might also be allergic to this (it contains a similar protein)



Cooking: Should be chopped before decocting

Identification: Creamy, oval shaped kernels; virtually indistinguishable from Tao Ren (Peach kernel), of the famous Tao Ren Wan (Peach Kernel Pills for constipation)
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Zǐ Wǎn

Asteris Radix

Aster, composite family

A very popular garden plant! Like a purple daisy!

Taste: Pungent, Bitter

Temp: Sl. Warm

Channels: Lung


Actions:


• Dissolves phlegm and stops cough of many kinds (wind/heat, wind/cold, lung deficiency); primarily used for chronic cough, especially cold natured

• Used with Bai Bu almost all the time

• This is a bit more drying and pungent than Bai Bu – combined, they complement each other



Dose: 3 – 9 g

Contra: Caution in yin deficient coughs, but always OK if combined appropriately

Cooking: Fry in honey to increase moistening; this goes for the whole category

Modern: Expectorant; antibiotic

Identification: Tangled mass of roots, dark in color and pliable
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Kuǎn Dōng Huā

Farfarae Flos

“welcome winter flower”, Coltsfoot, composite family

A famous remedy in Western herbalism to stop cough “dispersing yet not draining; warm yet not drying” – John Chen



Taste: Pungent

Temp: Warm

Channels: Lung



Actions:



• Stops cough and lowers rebellious lung qi; mostly used for cold-type cough

• More moistening than Zi Wan


Dose: 1.5 - 9 g

Toxicity: Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which could be carcinogenic with long term use

Cooking: Fry in honey to enhance moistening lungs

Identification: If you look closely, you can see the purple color of the flowers, and the “colt’s foot” shape

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Sū Zĭ

(Zi Su Zi)

Perillae Fructus

Taste: Pungent

Temp: Warm, but not drying

Channels: LI, Lung



Actions:


• Stops cough and wheeze, lowers rebellious lung qi, dissolves phlegm; cough and wheeze with copious sputum; cold phlegm and qi stagnation

• For difficult exhalation as in wheezing; for trouble with inhalation, combine with kidney herbs

• Moistens intestines, for constipation (use with Huo Ma Ren, Xing Ren, Tao Ren and Gua Lou Ren)

• This is the seed of the Perilla plant that produces Zi Su Ye, a warming diaphoretic

• Fatty oil 45%

Dose: 4.5 - 9 g

Contra: Chronic diarrhea

Cooking: Some grind before use; also, this is usually dry-fried before use, unless the laxative property is specifically desired

Identification: Small brownish seeds – smaller than Bai Jie Zi and not as yellow!

Other parts of Perilla that we use:

Folium Perillae (Zi Su Ye) is used as a warming diaphoretic and to harmonize the stomach, for morning sickness, seafood poisoning, and general nausea/vomiting

Caulis Perillae (Su Geng) is used to calm the fetus, regulate qi of stomach, treat pregnancy nausea, and prevent abortion
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Pí Pá Yè

Eriobotryae Folium

Leaf of loquat fruit

Taste: Bitter

Temp: Neutral (but other authors say cool, which I agree with – otherwise, how could it be so effective to clear stomach heat?)

Channels: Lung, Stomach

Actions:


• Transforms phlegm, descends rebellious lung qi downward -- for lung heat with cough, combine with Zhi Zi, Sang Bai Pi, Sang Ye

• For cough with lung dryness and heat, combine with Jie Geng and Bai Bu

• Harmonizes stomach, clears stomach heat, redirects stomach qi down; vomiting, belching, hiccups, bad breath, add Zhu Ru

• A cool version of Ban Xia! (but without the pungency)

Dose: 4.5 – 12 g

Contra: Cold lung conditions, cold stomach conditions

Cooking: Take care to remove the fuzz, which can be irritating, or you may need to cook in cheesecloth

Other uses: Many Chinese herb factories produce Loquat syrup as a cough remedy

Identification: Shiny, greenish brown leaves, similar to Da Qing Ye but without twigs
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Bǎi Bù

Stemonae Radix

Moistening!

Taste: Sweet, bitter

Temp: Sl Warm, some say neutral

Channels: Lung

Actions:

• Moistens lungs and stops coughing; for acute or chronic cough but most often used for a lung yin deficiency chronic cough, even though slightly warm. Its moisture prevents it from being harmful.

• Topically for parasites; head or body lice (combine with Ku Shen); internally as enema for pinworms (30-60 grams every day for 3 days, says Bensky); has Antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial actions

• Vaginal trichonomas, use topically

• Intestinal parasites: use with Wu Mei, Bing Lang, Shi Jun Xi (all parasite herbs); also treats bedbugs.


Dose: 3-9 g

Contra: Loose stools, spleen deficiency

Cooking: Used fresh for the topical applications

Other uses: Traditionally used for lung TB: combine with Mai Men Dong, Sheng Di Huang, and hemostatics

Modern: One study (see Chen) used this on rosacea in alcohol extract with good results

Identification: Moist, brownish yellow root pieces
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Sāng Bái Pí

Mori Cortex

Root bark of the white mulberry tree

A wonderful herb! So versatile!

Mulberry leaves and fruits

Taste: Sweet

Temp: Cold

Channels: Lung, Spleen


Actions:


• Stops cough and wheeze, drains heat from lungs – use only for heat-type cough

• Promotes urination, reduces edema (superficial edema, especially of upper body, because lung heat is obstructing water movement) – combine with Wu Pi San (Five-Peel Powder): Da Fu Pi, Chen Pi, Fu Ling Pi, Sheng Jiang Pi, for “skin edema” (Pí Shuĭ)

• Hypertension (Japanese varieties stronger for this) – combine with Huang Qin, Xia Ku Cao, Jue Ming Zi

• Diaper rash – make a soak for the baby

Dose: 6-15 g

Contra: Cold cough

Identification: Bright orange/yellow when the outer skin is on – otherwise, white. Bensky says best quality has the orange outer skin removed.
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Tíng Lì Zǐ

Lepidii/ Descurainiae Semen

Tansymustard Seed, Cruciferae family

Taste: Bitter, pungent

Temp: Cold (very)

Channels: Lung, Urinary Bladder

Actions:


• Drains lungs, reduces phlegm, calms wheezing (excess, abundant sputum, gurgling sound in throat)

• Moves water, reduces edema; facial edema or chest/abdomen, due to obstruction in lung or bladder qi (cirrhosis of liver, ascites, pulmonary edema, acute nephritic edema, chronic congestive heart failure, constipation, pleurisy, cough with phlegm)

• Sometimes this herb is placed in the “harsh cathartic, water expelling” category because it violently purges water from the lung

Dose: 3-9 g

Contra: Deficient lung qi or spleen deficiency

Identification: Looks like reddish/brown coffee grounds
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Mù Hú Dié

Oroxyli Semen

“Wooden Butterfly”

Indian Trumpetflower Seed

Taste: Sweet, bland

Temp: Cool

Channels: Liver, Lung


Actions:


• Moistens lungs, clears voice; acute and chronic pharyngitis, combine with Pang Da Hai

• Regulates stuck liver qi (flank pain, epigastric pain due to liver qi stagnation)

• Topical for skin ulcers (damp-heat ulcerative pus type)

• Contains fatty oils

Dose: 1.5 – 6 (some say 3-10) grams

Identification: Beautiful large creamy white seed pods
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