Knowledge Base/Herbs/Willowleaf Swallowwort Rhizome
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化痰止咳平喘药 · Phlegm-resolving, cough and breathing

Willowleaf Swallowwort Rhizome bái qián · 白前

Cynanchum stauntonii

Nature and flavour. Acrid, bitter, slightly warm; Lung system.

Classed as directing Lung Qi downward, dissolving phlegm and stopping cough. Traditional use is narrow and consistent: cough with copious phlegm and congested breathing attributed to Qi that will not descend. It is one of the herbs traditional writing pairs with 旋覆花 for this purpose.

性味归经。辛、苦,微温;归肺经。

归类为降气化痰止咳。传统用途范围较窄而一致:肺气壅实不降所致咳嗽痰多、喉中痰鸣、气逆喘促。传统文献常与旋覆花相须为用。

Classical category · no formulas, no dosages, no herb-drug combinations are given.
Safety. Slightly warm and descending in action — it is not the herb for cough attributed to Qi deficiency, which traditional texts say should be supported rather than pushed down. Human safety data in pregnancy and breastfeeding are insufficient. 白前 and 白薇 are different herbs with similar-sounding names and a history of confusion in the market, so correct identification matters.

微温而主降,传统认为气虚所致咳喘宜补不宜降,故不宜单用本品。妊娠期与哺乳期的人体安全性数据不足。白前与白薇名称相近但属不同药材,历史上曾有混淆,品种鉴别要紧。

Other Phlegm-resolving, cough and breathing herbs

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