Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Asteris

Botanical Name: Aster tataricus L. f.

Common Name: Aster root, Purple aster root

Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The roots, or rhizomes, are dug in spring or autumn. Then they are cleaned, dried in the sun and cut into pieces.

Properties & Taste: Bitter, sweet and slightly warm

Meridian: Lung

Functions: To resolve phlegm and stop cough

Indications & Combinations:
Cough: a) cough due to invasion by exogenous pathogenic factors manifested as cough with profuse sputumAster root (Ziwan) is used with Schizonepeta (Jingjie) and Swallowwort rhizome (Baiqian);

b) cough due to deficiency of the lungs manifested as cough with scanty sputum or with bloody sputum. Aster root (Ziwan) is used with Anemarrhena rhizome (Zhimu), Tendrilled fritillary bulb (Chuanbeimu) and Donkey hide gelatin (Ejiao) in the formula Ziwan Tang.

Dosage: 5-10 g