Cold phlegm, cold limbs treated with TCM white mustard seed

What is Bai Jie Zi or white mustard seed? Also known as Semen Brassicae in Latin, it refers to the seed of Brassica alba (L.) Boiss., which is an annual or biennial herb of 30 to 100cm in height. It is spherical, 1 to 1.6mm in diameter, and with deep yellow to brownish yellow testa, or reddish brown in some. Observed under a magnifying glass, the surface presents tiny net texture and clear hilum. Seeds become enlarged after soaked in water for a while, two cotyledons seen after seed coat removed, folded along the main vein, and radicle located between 2 cotyledons. Dried seed is odorless but tastes like oil at first and acrid later. After smashed and wetting, it sends out peculiar pungent smell. By the way, for medicinal purpose, the better one is full grains, uniform size, yellow or reddish brown in color.

Nature and meridians influenced
TCM believes that this herb is acrid and warm in nature and covers lung meridian. Main functions are to warm the lungs, resolve phlegm, facilitate Qi, dissipate binds, dredge channels, and alleviate pain.

Main usage and indications include cough and wheezing caused by cold phlegm, coughing up mucus, distention in chest and flanks, numbness or pain due to phlegm blocked in channels, boils due to phlegm-dampness, dorsal furuncle and pyogenic infections. Regular dosage is 3 to 10 grams in decoction.

Cold phlegm in TCM
Just like mentioned previously, this herb is good at expelling this expectorated matter. So what is it? As far as color is concerned, it is clear white in color and thin in texture. For example, other symptoms and signs are always accompanied like aversion to cold, fever, headache, laryngeal itching, and cough in influenza. Or patterns of deficiency of spleen-kidney have side symptoms such as aversion to coldness, cold limbs, fatigue, loss of appetite, clear urine, white greasy tongue coat, and moderate deep pulse too.

Transforming phlegm in TCM varies based on different patterns – mainly warm herbs for cold type and vice versa. So make sure the right patterns before giving out prescription. Regular medications for former pattern are Tong Xuan Li Fei Wan and Xiao Qing Long Ke Li while latter are Ji Zhi Tang Jiang and Xian Zhu Li Kou Fu Ye.