The source is from the root of Scrophalaria ningpoensis Hemsl, family Scrophulariaceae. Their roots are dug and collected in early stage of winter, piled up in the sun until the interior of the roots becomes black, and then are dried in the sun, cut into pieces and the crude form can be used.

Medicinal Properties:
Bitter, sweet and salty in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the lung, stomach and kidney meridians.

Actions:
Clear away heat and cool the blood, nourish yin and promote the production of the body fluids, relieve toxin and benefit the throat.

 

Application
1. For seasonal febrile diseases involving yingfen and xuefen, consuming yin and causing blood-heat, which are manifested as fever, maculae, oral dryness, and red and crimson tongue, etc.
2. It is used for carbuncle of heat type, scrofula and subcutaneous nodule.
3. It is used for yin-deficiency leading to hyperactivity of fire. For deficiency of lung and kidney yin manifested as cough, dryness of throat, hectic fever, night sweet and hemoptysis.
4. It is used for swollen and sore throat. Being a common medicinal herb to treat swollen and sore throat, it can always be combined with according to syndrome, whether sore throat is caused by exogenous wind and heat, or by sthenic-heat of lung meridian or by hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency.