This product is the mature fruit of the biennial herbaceous plant burdock (Arctium lappa L.) of the Asteraceae family. It is mainly produced in Hebei, Zhejiang, and other regions. Harvested in autumn, it is dried in the sun and used either raw or stir-fried. It is crushed before use.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Acrid and bitter, cold. act on lung and stomach channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Releasing the exterior with pungent-cool properties, promoting eruption, benefiting the throat, and removing toxins to reduce swelling.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for wind-heat common cold, sore throat. This product is pungent and dispersing, bitter and draining, cold and heat-clearing, hence it has the effects of releasing the exterior with pungent-cool, ventilating the lung and benefiting the throat. It is used to treat wind-heat common cold and sore throat, often combined with Lonicera, Forsythia, Schizonepeta, Platycodon Root, etc., such as Lonicera and Forsythia Powder; if wind-heat is excessive, sore throat, and heat toxin is severe, it can be combined with Rhubarb Rhizoma, Mentha, Schizonepeta, Saposhnikovia Root, etc., such as Arctium Decoction; if wind-heat cough, with profuse phlegm and difficulty in expectoration, it is often combined with Schizonepeta, Platycodon Root, Peucedanum, Liquorice Root.
2. Used for measles that do not erupt. This product clears and drains, disperses and releases the exterior with pungent-cool, expels and disperses heat toxin, thus promoting the eruption of rashes. It is used to treat measles that do not erupt or erupt and then recede, often combined with Mentha, Schizonepeta, Cicada Slough, Arnebia, etc., such as Promoting Eruption Decoction.
3. Used for abscesses, sores, and mumps pharyngitis. This product is pungent, bitter, and cold in nature, with both ascending and descending properties. It can disperse wind-heat externally and drain toxins internally, with the effects of clearing heat and removing toxins, reducing swelling and benefiting the throat. It is also slightly slippery and can promote urination and defecation, hence it can be used to treat wind-heat external invasion, fire toxin internal accumulation, abscesses, sores, and constipation, often combined with Rhubarb Rhizoma, Mirabilite, Gardenia, Forsythia, Mentha, etc.; this product combined with Trichosanthis Fruit, Forsythia, Snakegourd Root, green tangerine peel, etc., can also be used to treat liver depression transforming into fire, stomach heat obstructing the collaterals in acute mastitis, such as Trichosanthis Fruit Arctium Decoction; this product combined with Scrophularia Root, Skullcap Root, Coptis Rhizome, Isatis root, etc., can also be used to treat epidemic toxin suppurative parotitis, mumps pharyngitis, and other heat toxin syndromes, such as Universal Relief Decoction for Eliminating Toxin.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. 《Pharmacological Methods and Images》: "It has four uses: treating wind-dampness urticaria, throat wind heat, dispersing various swellings, sores, and ulcer toxins, and promoting the flow of stagnant qi in the waist and knees."
2. 《Compendium of Materia Medica》: "It eliminates macula and papule toxins."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 3-10g. Stir-frying slightly reduces its cold nature.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

This product is cold in nature and promotes bowel movements. Those with qi deficiency and loose stools should use it with caution.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains Great Burdock Achene glycosides, fatty oils, vitamin A, vitamin B1, and alkaloids, among other components.

1. The decoction of Great Burdock Achene has a significant antibacterial effect against Diplococcus pneumoniae; the water extract has varying degrees of inhibitory effects on multiple pathogenic skin fungi;
2. Great Burdock Achene has antipyretic and diuretic effects;
3. Recently, it has been discovered that Great Burdock Achene has antitumor effects, with its crude extract showing selective toxicity. Even at lower doses, it can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, bringing tumor cells closer to normal cells, potentially making it a powerful anticancer herbal medicine.