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TCM Treasures - Tussilago farfara
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Tussilago farfara
Simplified Chinese: 款冬花 Pinyin: kuǎn dōng huā
Tussilago farfara blooms in winter, giving it its name of kuan dong (treating winter) in Chinese.
The medical part of the flower lies in the buds. It is a “warm” herb that helps nourish lungs, regulate energy, decrease phlegm and relieve coughing.
It works for difficult breathing problems due to pathogenic coldness in the lung meridians, according to the “Shennong Bencao Jing” (The Divine Farmer’s Herb-Root Classic).
It is good for relieving chronic coughing with energy-deficiency in the lungs.
The buds usually form at the roots underground before blooming on the ground. They need to be dug out when the leaves wither in winter. The best time for bud collection is from late October to late December.
A legend suggests the beautiful and helpful flower as the reincarnation of a filial girl. A girl in Kuan Village collected medicine for her mother every day to treat her coughing. She vomited blood often when collecting medicine due to fatigue and strain. Though the mother recovered, the girl got sick and died.
Amazingly, small herbs sprouted from where she had vomited blood. And it always bloomed in winter. The villagers believed that the girl was revived within the flowers. Those with a cough who eat a bud or two would feel relief.Lily and kuan dong (Tussilago farfara) drink
• Cook decoction with 30-60g lily’s root and 10-15g kuan dong buds in an earthen pot.
• Add rock sugar to sweeten.
• Drink the decoction and eat the lily’s root before sleeping.
Benefits: Nourishes lungs, relieves coughing and decreases phlegm. It can be used for relieving chronic bronchitis, sore throat and other chronic coughing problems.
Zi wan (aster) and kuan dong tea
• Put 10-15g aster and 10-15g kuan dong buds in vacuum cup, pour in boiling water.
• Cover the vacuum cup for 30-40 minutes.
• Drink it often as tea.
Benefits: Helps decrease phlegm and relieves coughing.
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