It is a perennial herb with spindle-shaped root tubers, which usually grows in mountainous region, woods, or bamboo forest. The tubers are yellowish-white or khaki-colored in appearance, with irregular deep vertical sulcus or horizontal wrinkles sometimes. It is crisp, horny, flat section, and light yellowish-brown or yellowish-white in color. It tastes sweet and bitter and has mild odor.

The root tubers of Stemona japonica are narrow at both ends, light grey in color, with irregular deep vertical sulcus or horizontal wrinkles, and bitter taste. The root tubers of Stemona tuberosa Lour look like long spindle or elongated shapes, light yellowish-brown or grayish brown in skin, light vertical wrinkles or irregular vertical sulcus, sturdy, yellowish-white to dark brown section, and bitter taste.

WHAT'S STEMONA ROOT USED FOR?
It is sweet, bitter, and slight warm in nature and connects to lung meridian. Main indications include moistening and descending the lung Qi to stop cough, and killing parasites. In terms of coughing, it is dedicated to all no matter it is acute and chronic, Tuberculosis, or whooping cough. In particular, honeyed one is good at curing cough caused by lung deficiency. As for killing parasite, it is suitable for head lice, body louse, pinworms, and vaginal itching. Regular dosage is from 3 to 9 grams.

Stemona Root

HERBAL FORMULAS RELATED WITH STEMONA ROOT
Cough is the most common sign of respiratory problems, like infection of upper respiratory track, acute and Chronic Bronchitis, Bronchiectasis and all kinds of Pneumonia etc. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that cough thus occurs due to Lung Qi obstruction by attacks of exogenous pathogens, or Lung Qi losing control of its descending nature because of Zang-Fu dysfunction.

Bai Bu Wan, from Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue (Key to the Therapeutics of Children's Diseases), is formatted for lung-cold type cough with little phlegm. Other herbal ingredients includes Ma Huang (Ephedra sinica) and Xing Ren (Apricot Seed).

Zhi Ke San, from Yi Xue Xin Wu (Medical Revelations), is especially for lung-involved cough by cold-pathogens infringe on only skin deep. Other herbs are Jie Geng (Balloon Flower Rhizome), Zhi Gan Cao (Honey Fried Licorice), Bai Qian (Cynanchum Rhizome), Ju Hong (Bitter Orange Peel), and Zi Wan (Purple Aster Root).

Bai Bu Gao, from Wai Ke Shi Fa (Ten Ways For Surgical Department), is for psoriasis treatment. Other herbs in this herbal formula are Bai Xian Pi (Dictamnus Root Bark), Bi Ma Zi (Castor Seed), He Shi (Daucus Fruit), Huang Bai (Amur Cork Tree Bark), Dang Gui (Dong Quai), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia), Huang La (Beeswax), Xiong Huang (Realgar), and Ma You (Sesame Oil).