The source is from the flower bud of Daphne genkwa sieb. et Zucc, family Thymelaeaceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces, collected in spring before the flower blossoms, dried in the sun or by fire, the crude one or the one prepared with vinegar is used for medication.

Medicinal Properties: Pungent and bitter in flavor, cold in nature, toxic and attributive to the lung, kidney and large intestine meridians.

Actions: Purge the bowels to eliminate the retention of phlegm, resolve phlegm to relieve cough, kill worms and treat sore.

Application
1. It is used for retention of phlegm in the chest and hypochondrium, edema and tympanites. As it has similar action of purging and eliminating the retention of phlegm to Gansui (Radix Euphorbiae Kansui) and Daji (Radix Euphorbiae Pekinensis), the three kinds are often combined with each other, such as Shizao Tang (Decoction) and Zhouche Wan (Pill).
2. For cough and dyspnea due to phlegm, it can be used alone or together with others that resolve phlegm, relieve cough and dyspnea. Recently, it is also used for chronic bronchitis.
3. For eczema on the head, tinea tonsure and hard tinea, it can be used alone or together with Xionghuang (Realgar), which are pounded together into powder that are mixed with pork fat for exteranl application.

Usage and Dosage:
1.5 - 3 g is used in decoction for oral use; 0.6 - 1 g is added to powder form; just right amount for external use; if taken orally, it must be prepared with vinegar to decrease its toxicity.

Notes:
Contraindicated in the weak and pregnant women. It is incompatible with Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae).