TCM China:

Introduction To Coltsfoot Flower (kuan dong hua)   

Coltsfoot Flower (kuan dong hua) 

Flos Farfarae

Properties: It is acrid and sweet in flavour, and warm in nature. It is tropistic to the lung channel. Its sweetness and warmness are moidtening and acridness can clear phlegm. It acts particulary on the lung channel, it can nourish the lung to keep the adverse Qi downward, relieving cough and asthma. It is neither dry nor greasy and it effects slowly, similar to that of Radix Asteris. It is indicated in various cough and asthma in compound prescriptions including Radix Asteris to reinforce its therapeutic effects.

Effects: Nourishing the lung to keep the adverse Qi downward, relieving cough and phlegm.

Indications: For treatment of cough due to exopathogen, it is usually used together with Herba Schizonepetae, Rhizoma Cynanchi Stauntonil, Fructus Perillae, Radix Platycodi, and other herbs; For pertsistent cough due to deficiency syndrome of the lung even with hempoptysis, it can be used in combination with Bulbus Lilii, Radis Adenophorae, Colla Corii, Asini, Rhizoma Dioscoreae, and other lung-tonifying and Yin-nourishing drugs; For treatment of cough and asthma due to cold and fluid-retention syndrome, abundant heat and thin sputum, it is commonly used in combination with Herba Ephedrae, Rhizoma Belamcande, Herba Asari, Rhizoma Pinelliae, and other herbs in order to warm the lung to reduce watery phlegm, relieve cough and asthma; For treatment of cough due to lung-heat, it can be used together with Cortex Mori Radicis, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae, Semen Armeniacae Amarum, and other herbs having the actions of removing heat from the lung and relieving asthema.

Dosage and Administration: 5-10g, used rawly or after stir-baking with honey.