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Cura x Cura

Niu Bang Zi牛蒡子

Arctii Fructus · Burdock Fruit · Great Burdock Achene

Herbs that Release the Exterior 解表药《名医别录》

Overview

The ripe fruit of great burdock — small, ridged and grey-brown, usually crushed before it goes into the pot. Acrid, bitter and cold, it does three things that often need doing together: it disperses wind-heat, it opens the Lung and clears the throat, and it pushes a rash that is slow to surface out through the skin. It is also mildly moistening to the intestines, a benefit when there is heat with constipation and a nuisance otherwise. Dry-frying tempers both the cold and the slipperiness and makes it easier to tolerate.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid, bitter · Cold

Channels

Lung · Stomach

Typical Dosage

6–12 g in decoction
牛蒡子Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Disperses wind-heat, clears the throatFever with sore swollen throat and cough at the onset of a wind-heat illness.
  • Vents rashesMeasles and other rashes that are slow to come out; itchy wind-rash.
  • Resolves toxin, reduces swellingBoils, mumps and other hot swellings of the head and neck.
  • Processed form Niu Bang ZiDry-frying reduces the cold, slippery quality and the tendency to loosen the stool; the raw fruit is stronger for an acute sore throat.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Niu Bang Zi

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Wind-heat fever with sore throat and cough
    - Measles and itchy rashes that are slow to surface
    - Mumps, boils and swellings of the head and neck

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

TonsillitisPharyngitisMeaslesUrticariaMumps

Contraindications

Cautions

Cold and moistening to the intestines: it loosens the stool, so it is avoided where the Spleen is weak with loose stools or diarrhea, and in sores that are pale and flat from qi deficiency rather than hot and raised. Burdock belongs to the daisy family — patients with a known allergy to that family should be asked before it is dispensed.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No classical prohibition, but its cold and stool-loosening nature means it should be taken in pregnancy only under practitioner supervision.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Ming Yi Bie Lu《名医别录》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.