This product is the capitulum of the perennial herbaceous plant Inula Flower (Inula japonica Thunb.) or European Inula (I. Britannica L.) from the Asteraceae family. It is mainly produced in Henan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and other regions. The flowers are harvested during the summer and autumn when they bloom, impurities are removed, and they are dried in the shade or sun. It is used either raw or honey-fried.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Bitter, acrid and salty, slightly warm. Act on lung and stomach meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Descending qi and resolving phlegm, downbearing counterflow to stop vomiting.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for cough, asthma, excessive phlegm, and phlegm-fluid retention, thoracic accumulation, diaphragmatic stuffiness, and fullness. This product is bitter and descending, pungent and opening, resolving phlegm and lowering qi. It descends qi and resolves phlegm to calm asthma and cough, resolves phlegm, eliminates stuffiness, and promotes water to relieve stuffiness and fullness. For cold phlegm cough and asthma, it is paired with cultivated purple perilla fruit, Pinellia; if it is due to phlegm-heat, it is paired with White Mulberry Root-Bark, Trichosanthis Fruit to clear heat and resolve phlegm; for stubborn phlegm and chest fullness, it is paired with sea pumice, sea clam shell to resolve phlegm and soften hardness.
2. Used for belching and vomiting. This product not only descends lung qi but also effectively descends stomach qi to stop vomiting and belching. For phlegm turbidity obstructing the middle, stomach qi ascending counterflow causing belching and vomiting, and gastric stuffiness, it is paired with Hematite, Pinellia, Fresh Ginger Rhizome, etc., such as Inula and Hematite Decoction.
3. In addition, it can also be used for chest and hypochondriac pain. This product has the function of invigorating the blood to unblock collaterals and is often paired with Cyperus, etc., such as Cyperus Inula Flower Decoction.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "It governs binding qi, fullness below the rib-side, palpitation due to fright. It eliminates water, removes cold and heat between the five zang-organs, supplements the center, and lowers qi."
2. Bencao Huiyan: "Inula Flower is a medicinal substance that disperses phlegm, expels water, and promotes the downward movement of qi. It governs binding qi in the heart and lungs, deficiency and fullness below the rib-side, phlegm binding in the chest, vomiting, stuffiness and hardness, belching, or recurrent fluid retention in the heart and spleen, persistent fluid retention in the bladder, and stagnant water. Generally, this medicinal is slightly salty to soften hardness and disperse stuffiness, and its nature is to lower qi and move phlegm and water. It is truly a medicinal for breaking and draining."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct 3-10g; it is advisable to wrap in cloth.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Yin deficiency with symptoms of fatigue and cough, and those with dry cough due to fluid injury should avoid use. Additionally, because this product has fine hairs that can easily irritate the throat, causing itching and leading to choking cough or vomiting, it must be wrapped in cloth before decocting.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains flavonoids, Inula Flower sterols A, B, C, and glucose, Daimyo Oak Bark Qin, etc.

The flavonoids contained have a relieving effect on histamine-induced bronchospasm in animals and have a weak diuretic effect.

bubble_chart Supplementary Medicinals

Inula Herb: The aerial part of Inula Flower. Its properties and effects are similar to those of Inula Flower, with a dispersing nature. It is mainly used for coughs with excessive phlegm due to external contraction. Decoction, 5-10g.