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Polaris (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) and Anemarrhenae Rhizoma serve as its guiding herbs. It is incompatible with Atractylodis Rhizoma, Imperatae Rhizoma, and Alum. It opposes Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata.
Acrid, bitter, slightly cold. Enters the Qi level of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. It opens up stagnant Qi in the chest and heart, and descends Phlegm caused by coughing due to Lung Fire. It treats strangury, hernia, and difficult lactation; eliminates throat obstruction (Hou Bi) and scrofula (Luo Li); resolves pathogenic heat in the Small Intestine; and treats pulmonary consumptive disease (Fei Wei) with hemoptysis. Combined with Polaris (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), it transforms Phlegm and descends Qi. Combined with Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, it reduces swelling and pain from perianal abscesses. Combined with Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, it treats dysuria during pregnancy. Combined with Forsythiae Fructus, it treats goiter (Ying Liu). Combined with Trichosanthis Fructus, it opens obstructed Phlegm. (Guides heat downward, allowing Phlegm and Qi to flow freely.) Combined with Platycodonis Radix, it descends Qi and stops coughing.

Bells from Zhongpingfan, Sichuan, with a sweet taste are considered best; those from Xiangshan have a bitter taste. To clear Phlegm generated by Fire-Heat, remove the core, stir-fry with glutinous rice until the rice is cooked, then discard the rice and use the herb. For patients with Stomach Cold, stir-fry with ginger juice. Among Bells, there is a variety that is single-celled, not divided into two lobes, and lacks wrinkles, known as "Dan Long Jing" (Dragon Essence). It is not used in medicine; accidental ingestion causes flaccidity of sinews and vessels. This toxicity can be immediately resolved by taking Polygonati Rhizoma (Huang Jing) and juice of Isatis Indigotica (Xiao Lan Zhi).
Contraindicated in cases of Cold-Phlegm retention and cold diarrhea with nausea.

Sichuan Bell (Chuan Bei Mu) descends Fire-Phlegm in the Lung Meridian; Apricot Seed (Xing Ren) moves Cold-Phlegm in the Lung Meridian; White Aconite Root (Bai Fu Zi) dispels Wind-Phlegm in the Lung Meridian; Trichosanthis Semen (Lou Ren) purges Congested-Phlegm in the Lung Meridian. For Phlegm in the Lung Meridian, only Donkey-Hide Gelatin (E Jiao) can guide it downward. For Toxic-Phlegm in the Lung Meridian, only Natrii Sulfas (Xiao Shi) can eliminate it. If Damp-Phlegm arises from the Spleen Meridian, Pinelliae Rhizoma drives it out so it does not stagnate. If Phlegm-Qi lies hidden in the Spleen Meridian, Inulae Flos pushes it away so it does not remain. If Blood-Phlegm knots in the Spleen Meridian, Aster Tataricus Flower (Dong Hua) opens it so it does not accumulate. When Damp-Heat in the Spleen and Stomach generates Phlegm, Sophorae Tonkinensis Legume (Huai Jiao) regulates it, causing Phlegm to become clear and thin, preventing its formation. When Excess-Phlegm remains in the Stomach Fu organ causing distension, Natrii Sulfas Crystallizatus (Xuan Ming Fen) purges it, causing Phlegm to vanish completely. If stomachache is caused by Phlegm, Arcae Concha (Lei Ke) stops it. If old Phlegm forms cysts, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Cang Zhu) removes it. To resolve Phlegm and open the Heart orifices, Polygalae Radix (Yuan Zhi) is effective. To break Phlegm-stagnation in the Heart Meridian, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel (Rui Ren) is relied upon. Qingmu Stone (Meng Shi) rolls away Phlegm stagnation, leaving the Lung Meridian clear. Tiehua Powder (Tie Hua Kai) resolves Phlegm knots, bringing peace to the Liver. With Green Salt (Qing Yan) for the Kidney Meridian, Phlegm-Fire subsides instantly. With Arca Shell Powder (Ge Fen) entering the Kidneys, Phlegm-Heat is entirely removed. As for Deficiency-Phlegm of the Kidney Meridian, Ostrea Concha (Mu Li) counteracts it with success. When Kidney Water overflows as Phlegm, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shu Di) tonifies it to achieve continuity. For Phlegm above the diaphragm, if accompanied by Fire, Indigo Naturalis (Qing Dai) treats it; if accompanied by Dryness, Trichosanthis Radix (Hua Fen) descends it. Only Rhubarb (Da Huang) can purge stubborn Phlegm from the intestines and stomach; Immature Bitter Orange (Zhi Shi) can scatter accumulated sticky Phlegm. Furthermore, for Phlegm caused by rebellious Ministerial Fire, Silkworm (Jiang Can) resolves it. For Cold-knotted Phlegm under the ribs, Mustard Seed (Bai Jie) clears it. For Wind-Phlegm in the collaterals, Pinelliae Rhizoma (Nan Xing) expels it. For stagnation, Amomum Juice (Jing Li) guides it; for knotting, Morning Glory Seed (Qian Niu) scatters it; for Heat, Bamboo Sap (Zhu Li) circulates it. For convulsions generating Phlegm-fluids, only aggressive expulsion works, utilizing the power of Scorpion (Quan Jie). Wind-Heat often leads to Phlegm congestion, which requires vomiting to calm, utilizing the power of Alum (Bai Fan). Chang Shan drives out Phlegm accumulation; Wild Wolfbane (Ye Lang Du) breaks malignant Phlegm; Areca Seed (Bing Lang) drops down Phlegm masses; Colocasia Corm (Ci Gu) induces vomiting for Phlegm-epilepsy; Sichuan Smartweed Seed (Chuan Liao Zi) decides against upward congestion of Wind-Phlegm; Aristolochiae Fructus (Ma Dou Ling) descends the Phlegm-ball of Plum-pit Qi. Each herb has its specific treatment; each type of Phlegm has its distinct resolution. Without knowing the origin of Phlegm, and without examining the function of the drugs, one often indiscriminately uses Sichuan Bell and Pinellia as Phlegm-resolving agents, mixing them together without distinction. Such practice rarely achieves therapeutic success.