Pharmaceutical Name:

Flos Inulae

Botanical Name:

Inula Britannica L.
Inula japonica Thunb.

Common Name:

Inula flower

Source of Earliest Record:

Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The flower is gathered in summer and autumn, when it is blooming, and it is dried in the sun.

Properties and Taste:

Bitter, pungent, salty and slightly warm

Meridians:

Lung, spleen, stomach and large intestine

Functions:

To resolve phlegm and promote water metabolism
To conduct qi downward and stop vomiting

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Phlegm fluid blocking the lungs manifested as asthma and cough with sputum.
*Use with Pinellia tuber (Banxia) and Asarum herb (Xixin).

2.      Phlegm fluid blocking the stomach leading to rebellious qi manifested as eructation, vomiting and epigastric full sensation.
*Use with Red ochre (Daizheshi) in the formula Xuanfu Daize Tang.

Dosage:

3-10 g

Cautions:

When decocting this herb should be wrapped in cloth.