The source is from rhizome of a perennial herbaceous plant, Anemarrhena asphodegoides Bunge, family Liliaceae. The medicinal material is collected in spring and autumn, the crude without hair or external skin is dried in the sun and cut into pieces or stir-baked with a salt solution for use.

Medicinal Properties:
Bitter and sweet in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the lung, stomach and kidney meridians.

Actions:
Clear away heat and purge fire, nourish yin and moisturize dryness.

 

Application
1. For overabundance of pathogenic heat due to seasonal febrile disease with symptoms of high fever and excessive thirst.
2. The medicinal herb is used for symptoms of cough due to lung-heat, dry cough due to yin deficiency, since it can nourish yin and moisten the lung as well as clear away heat and purge fire from the lung.
3. For the hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency marked by hectic fever, night sweat and restlessness.
4. For diabetes due to yin deficiency manifested as thirst due to consumption of body fluids, constipation due to dryness of intestine.