The source is from the root of Aucklandia lappa Decne., family Compositae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the areas of Yunnan and Sichuan. Dug and collected in autumn and winter, washed cleanly, dried in the sun. The crude or roasted is used.

Medicinal Properties: Pungent and bitter in flavor, warm in nature and attributive to the spleen, stomach, large intestine and gallbladder meridians.

Actions: Promote circulation of qi and alleviate pain.

Application
1. It is used for stomach and spleen qi-stagnation syndrome and meanwhile is an essential medicine to activate qi circulation and alleviate pain. For epigastric fullness and pain due to stagnation of qi, it is used in combination with Jupi (Pericarpium Cirri Tangerinae ), Sharen ( Fructus Amomi ), and Tanxiang ( Lignum Santali Albi), etc. ; for the stagnation of spleen-qi due to spleen-deficiency with mass and oppression in the chest and epigastric abdomen, loss of appetite, diarrhea, it is used together with Dangshen (Radix Codonopsis ), Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), and Jupi (Pericarpium Cirri Tangerinae), etc., such as Xiang Sha Liujunzi Tang (Decoction).

2. For dysentery due to dampness and heat with tenesmus, usually combined with Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis), such as Xiang Lian Wan (Pill); for fullness and pain in the epigastrium due to indigestion with constipation or difficulty in diarrhea, used together with Binglang (Semen Arecae), Qingpi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride ), and Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei), etc., such as Muxiang Binglang Wan (Pill).
3. For steaming fever due to dampness and heat, and failure of the liver and gallbladder to disperse with hypochondriac distension and pain, jaundice, bitter taste in the mouth, and yellowish tongue coating, etc., it is used together with Chaihu ( Radix Bupleuri ), Yujin ( Radix Curcumae ), and Zhike (Fructus Aurantii ), etc.. Now it has certain therapeutic effects in treatment of cholelithiasis and gallstone colic.
In addition, it is also added to tonics with small amount for decreasing the greasy property of tonics and preventing such side effects from appearing as chest distress, abdominal distension, and loss of appetite.

Usage and Dosage:
3 - 10 g is used in decoction for oral use. The crude herb is large in an action of circulating qi while the roasted is mild in the action and usually used for diarrhea.