🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Cough Suppressant and Phlegm-Transforming Herbs
Cough suppressant and phlegm-transforming drugs refer to herbs that alleviate or eliminate cough and phlegm, suitable for conditions such as cough, phlegm accumulation, and shortness of breath.
① Platycodon grandiflorum (Kudzu Root)
Platycodon grandiflorum is the root of Platycodon grandiflorum (Campanulaceae); contains platycodin, spinach sterol and its glycosides, platycodin acid, etc. Among them, platycodin stimulates mucous membranes, causing increased secretion, diluting phlegm, and facilitating its expulsion. Meanwhile, saponins possess antitussive, sedative, and antipyretic effects. Additionally, platycodon has anti-inflammatory properties, thus when combined with other herbs, it achieves satisfactory results in treating sore throat, wind-cold common cold, and other respiratory inflammations such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers it neutral in nature, bitter and pungent in taste, with functions of promoting lung Qi dispersion, expelling phlegm, and draining pus. Suitable for external contraction of wind-cold, sore throat, lung abscess, cough with bloody sputum, dysentery, abdominal pain, etc.
Dosage: Generally 3–9 grams; contraindicated in dry cough without phlegm.
② Fritillaria cirrhosa (Sichuan Fritillaria)
Fritillaria cirrhosa is the underground tuber of Fritillaria cirrhosa, F. unibracteata, and F. deltoidea (Liliaceae); contains various alkaloids. Total alkaloids and non-alkaloid components both exhibit antitussive and expectorant effects, widely used in treating chronic and acute bronchitis, upper respiratory tract infections, and cough due to tuberculosis. Especially effective for persistent cough after control of upper respiratory infection, with poor phlegm expulsion—using Fritillaria powder or tablets yields better results.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers it cool in nature, sweet and bitter in taste, with functions of stopping cough, transforming phlegm, clearing heat, and resolving nodules. Suitable for cough due to deficiency, hemoptysis, chest oppression, laryngitis, pulmonary atrophy, scrofula, mastitis, etc.
Dosage: Generally 3–9 grams; can be ground into fine powder and taken with decoction, 0.5–1.5 grams per dose.
③ Aristolochia debilis (Aristolochia Fruit)
Aristolochia debilis is the fruit of Aristolochia debilis and Aristolochia manshuriensis (Aristolochiaceae); contains aristolochic acid, magnoflorine, and other alkaloids. Research confirms that Aristolochia has antibacterial effects, inhibiting common causative bacteria of respiratory infections. Its decoction has expectorant and smooth muscle relaxation effects. Aristolochic acid also exhibits anticancer, antimicrobial, and enhanced phagocytic activity. Additionally, Aristolochia has a mild and sustained hypotensive effect.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers it cold in nature, bitter and slightly pungent in taste, with functions of clearing lung heat, transforming phlegm, stopping cough, and relieving asthma. Suitable for lung heat cough and wheezing, phlegm congestion, prolonged cough due to lung deficiency, hemoptysis, hoarseness, hemorrhoids, and anal swelling.
Dosage: Generally 3–6 grams.
④ Pinellia ternata (Pinellia Rhizome)
Pinellia ternata is the rhizome of Pinellia ternata (Araceae); contains volatile oils, alkaloids, various amino acids, plant sterols, and glycosides. Pharmacological studies prove that Pinellia has significant antitussive and antiemetic effects. Raw Pinellia induces vomiting, hence prepared Pinellia is generally used to treat chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and vomiting caused by various reasons. Additionally, Pinellia shows significant anticancer activity and can be used in treating cervical cancer and skin cancer.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers it warm in nature, pungent in taste, toxic. Functions include drying dampness, transforming phlegm, descending counterflow, stopping vomiting, eliminating masses, and resolving nodules. Suitable for cough with reversed qi, phlegm accumulation, chest and epigastric fullness, distension, pain, goiter, scrofula, carbuncles, and sores.
Dosage: Generally 3–9 grams. Contraindicated in cases of yin deficiency, blood deficiency, insufficient body fluids, red tongue without coating, and late pregnancy due to toxicity. Must be processed before use.
⑤ Stemonae Radix (Stemona Root)
Stemonae Radix is the tuberous root of Stemonopsis japonica, Stemonopsis japonica var. glabra, and Stemonopsis chinensis (Stemonaceae); contains multiple alkaloids. These alkaloids relax bronchial smooth muscle spasm and reduce excitability of the animal's respiratory center, thereby suppressing cough reflex—thus possessing antitussive effects. Experiments confirm that Stemonae Radix decoction inhibits various pathogenic bacteria and dermatophytes; also inhibits certain influenza viruses. Furthermore, it kills larvae of mosquitoes and flies, head lice, clothing lice, and bed bugs.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers it neutral in nature, sweet and pungent in taste, with functions of moistening the lungs to stop cough and killing parasites. Suitable for wind-cold cough, whooping cough, senile cough and wheezing, enterobiasis, and external use for lice eradication.
Dosage: Generally 3–9 grams; apply externally as needed. Not recommended for those with indigestion or loose stools.
⑥ Peucedanum praeruptorum (Qianhu)
Peucedanum praeruptorum is the root of Peucedanum praeruptorum and Peucedanum franchetii (Apiaceae); contains volatile oils and various structurally similar lactones. Purple-flowered Peucedanum contains volatile oils, furanocoumarins, and mannitol. Pharmacological tests show that Peucedanum decoction increases respiratory secretions, thus having expectorant effects. Peucedanum decoction inhibits influenza virus, and its lactone compounds all exhibit antibacterial and antidermatophyte actions.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers it cool in nature, bitter and pungent in taste, with functions of dispersing wind, clearing heat, lowering qi, and transforming phlegm. Suitable for wind-heat headache, phlegm-heat cough and wheezing, nausea, chest and diaphragm fullness and distress.
Dosage: Generally 3–9 grams.
Winter heliotrope (Hedysarum) is the flower bud of Helichrysum litoreum (Compositae), containing volatile oils, hedysarum diol, aromatic glycosides, and plant sterols. Pharmacological tests show that Hedysarum decoction has significant antitussive, expectorant, and moderate bronchodilator effects.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers it warm in nature, pungent in taste, with functions of moistening the lungs, lowering qi, stopping cough, and transforming phlegm. Suitable for acute and chronic cough, wheezing, and blood in sputum.
Dosage: Generally 3–9 grams; contraindicated in fiery cough.
⑧ Aster tataricus (Purple Aster)
Aster tataricus is the root and rhizome of Aster tataricus (Asteraceae); contains aster saponin, asteroxanthin, and volatile oils. Pharmacological tests show that Aster tataricus decoction has antitussive and expectorant effects. It also shows varying degrees of inhibition against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers it slightly warm in nature, sweet and bitter in taste, with functions of stopping cough, transforming phlegm, relieving asthma, and reducing fever. Suitable for wind-cold cough and wheezing, chronic cough with bloody sputum due to deficiency, laryngitis, and urinary retention.
Dosage: 3–9 grams.
⑨ Descurainia sophia (Tingli Zi)
Descurainia sophia is the seed of Descurainia sophia, Draba nemorosa, or Gynura segetum (Cruciferae); contains fatty oils, proteins, sugars, sinigrin, and other components. Also contains β-sitosterol and cardiac glycosides. Enhances myocardial contraction, slows heart rate, increases cardiac output in failing hearts, and reduces venous pressure.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers it cold in nature, pungent and bitter in taste, with functions of lowering qi and promoting diuresis. Suitable for lung obstruction with wheezing, phlegm accumulation and cough, edema, and abdominal distension.
Dosage: 3–9 grams.
<Cough Suppressant and Phlegm-Transforming>