Inula Flower (Xuanfuhua)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Flos Inulae |
| Botanical Name: | Inula Britannica L. Inula japonica Thunb. |
| Common Name: | Inula flower |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Shennong Bencao Jing |
| art 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 |
| Meridian: | 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. |