WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

It is the rhizome and root of Cynanchum stauntonii(Decne.) Schltr.ex Levl. or Cynanchum glaucescens (Decne.) Hand.-Mazz.,family Asclepiadaceae. They are dug and collected in autumn. They are washed clean and then dried in the sunshine and cut into segments. The raw or stir-blaed with honey are used.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Pungent, bitter and slightly warm; relate to lung meridian.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Direct qi downward and resolve phlegm.

[ Clinical Applications ]: Cough with profuse sputum, fullness in chest , dyspnea      It treats stagnation of lung qi causing cough with profuse sputum on cold side, in combination with Ziwan and Banxia. For that on heat side, it is used together with Sangbaipi and Digupi. To treat cough due to exogenous wind and cold, it is usually used with Jingjie, Jiegeng and Chenpi, such as Zhike Powder. For excess syndrome manifested as cough and dyspnea with edema and sputum rumbling in throat, it is combined with Ziwan and Daji in Baiqian Decoction.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 3-9g.

白前为萝藦科植物柳叶白前Cynanchum stauntonii (Decne.) Schltr.ex Levl. 或芫花叶白前C．glaucescens （Decne．）Hand．-Mazz．的根茎及根。主产于浙江、安徽、江苏、福建、湖北、江西、湖南等地。秋季采挖，洗净，晒干生用或蜜炙用。