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Cura x Cura

Zhe Bei Mu浙贝母

Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus · Thunberg Fritillary Bulb · Zhejiang Fritillary

Herbs that Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing 化痰止咳平喘药《轩岐救正论》

Overview

The bulb of the Zhejiang fritillary, larger and blunter in action than its Sichuan cousin Chuan Bei Mu 川贝母. Bitter and cold, it clears heat and thins hot, sticky phlegm, and — the reason it is often preferred — it dissipates hard nodules: scrofula, breast lumps, abscesses that have not yet come to a head. Where Chuan Bei Mu is the moistening choice for a long, dry, depleted cough, Zhe Bei Mu is the choice for a loud, productive, heat-driven cough of recent onset.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter · Cold

Channels

Lung · Heart

Typical Dosage

3–10 g in decoction
浙贝母Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Clears heat, transforms phlegmCough with thick yellow phlegm from wind-heat or Lung heat, including the heavy, noisy cough at the start of an infection.
  • Dissipates nodules, disperses soresScrofula and neck lumps, breast lumps and mastitis, Lung and intestinal abscess.
  • Opens what is bound in the chestChest oppression where phlegm and heat have knotted together; classically with Xuan Shen 玄参 and Mu Li 牡蛎.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Zhe Bei Mu

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Cough with thick yellow phlegm from wind-heat or Lung heat
    - Scrofula, neck and breast lumps
    - Abscess that has not come to a head, mastitis, Lung abscess
    - Chest oppression from bound phlegm-heat

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

BronchitisProductive coughMastitisLymphadenitisThyroid nodule

Contraindications

Cautions

Cold and directed at phlegm-heat, so it is wrong for a cough with clear, watery, cold phlegm and wrong for a weak, cold Spleen and Stomach — it will worsen loose stools and a poor appetite. Classical incompatibility: fritillary is not combined with the aconite herbs — Chuan Wu, Cao Wu or Fu Zi — one of the eighteen antagonisms; tell your practitioner if any of these is already in your prescription. Keep to the practitioner's amount and do not exceed 9 g a day.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction — practitioner judgment applies.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    2. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
    3. 《中华本草》.

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.