This product is the mature seed of the cruciferous herb Lepidium apetalum (Lepidium apetalum Willd.) or Descurainia sophia (Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl). The former is called "Northern Pepperweed Seed" and is mainly produced in Hebei, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, and other regions; the latter is called "Southern Pepperweed Seed" and is mainly produced in Jiangsu, Shandong, Anhui, Zhejiang, and other regions. The plants are harvested when the fruits mature in summer, dried in the sun, and the seeds are rubbed out, impurities removed, and used raw or stir-fried.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Bitter and acrid, extremely cold. Act on lung and bladder meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Purging the lung and relieving panting, unblock water and dispersing edema.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for phlegm and saliva congestion, wheezing and cough that cannot lie flat. This product is bitter and descending, pungent and dispersing, cold in nature and clearing heat, specifically draining lung water and phlegm fire to relieve wheezing and cough. It is often combined with Chinese Date to moderate its properties, such as in the "Golden Chamber" Pepperweed Seed Chinese Date Lung-Draining Decoction. Clinically, it is often paired with cultivated purple perilla fruit, White Mulberry Root-Bark, Bitter Apricot Seed, etc., for purging the lung and relieving panting.
2. Used for edema, pleural fluid retention, chest and abdominal fluid accumulation, and difficulty in urination. This product relieves lung qi congestion and dredges and regulates water passages, unblocking water and dispersing edema. For treating ascites and swelling due to dampness-heat obstruction, it is combined with Stephania Tetrandra, Pricklyash Seed, Rhubarb Rhizoma, namely Stephania, Pricklyash Seed, Pepperweed and Rhubarb Pill. For treating thoracic accumulation with chest and rib fluid accumulation, it is combined with Bitter Apricot Seed, Rhubarb Rhizoma, Mirabilite, namely Major Chest Bind Pill. Modernly, this product is used in combination with other medicinals to effectively treat exudative pleuritis, etc.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Main abdominal mass abdominal mass binds qi, diet cold and heat, breaks hardness and expels evil, unblocks and benefits the water passages."
2. Bielu: "Drains bladder water, subdues lingering heat qi, expels evil water from between the skin, facial and eye swelling."
3. Kaibao Bencao: "Treats lung congestion abnormal rising of qi cough, stabilizes panting, eliminates chest phlegm-fluid retention."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 5-10g; take as powder, 3-6g.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

Northern Pepperweed seeds contain substances with cardiotonic effects, india mustard seed glycosides, fatty oils, proteins, sugars, etc. Southern Pepperweed seeds contain volatile oils (including benzyl isothiocyanate, allyl isothiocyanate, etc.), fatty oils, cardiotonic glycosides (one of which is common jasmin orange leaf and twig glycoside A), etc.

1. Both types of Pepperweed seed alcohol extracts have cardiotonic effects, which can enhance myocardial contractility and slow heart rate.
2. They can increase output and reduce venous pressure in a weakened heart. Large doses can cause arrhythmia and other symptoms of cardiotonic glycoside poisoning.
3. This product also has diuretic effects.