VARIANT NAMES: Laifu, Qigen, Luofu, Luobai, Tu, Zisong, Qinsong.
ORIGIN: The fresh root of Raphanus sativus [Cruciferae].
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: Containing glucose,sucrose, fructose, various kinds of amino acid, coumaric acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, phenylpyruvic acid, gentisinic acid, hydrox-henzoic acid, vitamin C, methylmercaptan,raphanusin and so on.
NATURE, FLAVOR AND CHANNEL TROPISM: Pungent, sweet in flavor and cool in nature, acting on the channels of the lung and stomach.
EFFICIENCIES AND INDICATIONS: Removing food stagnation, clearing away phlegm-heat, keeping the adverse qi flowing downward, regulating the middlejiao, clearing away toxic materials. It is used to treat food stagnation, turgor, Hysterical Aphonia caused by cough due to accumulation of phlegm, hematemesis, Nasal Bleeding, Diabetes, dysentery, Migraine and Headache.
DIRECTIONS: To be eaten raw, stir-fried, cooked, or made into medicated diet. It can also be decocted or pounded to get its juice for drinking, or applied to the affected part when used externally. Patients manifesting symptoms of insufficiency of the spleen-yang should not eat it.