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Kuantonghua (Flower of Tussilago farfara) 1 [Image: pd188.bmp]
Kuantonghua (Flower of Tussilago farfara) 2 [Image: pd189.bmp]

Pungent, sweet, warm in nature, non-toxic. Primarily treats cough with rebellious qi (Ke Ni Shang Qi), effectively relieves asthma (Shan Chuan), throat obstruction (Hou Bi), various types of fright epilepsy (Zhu Jing Xian), pathogenic factors of cold and heat (Re Nie Xie Qi), wasting-thirst (Xiao Ke), and wheezing with rapid breathing (Chuan Xi Hu Xi). Also known as Tuowu, Kedong, Huxu, Tuxi, and Didong. Grows in the valleys of Changshan and near waters in the Shangdang region. Flowers are harvested in the eleventh lunar month and dried in the shade. (Xingren [Prunus armeniaca Seed] serves as its guiding herb; it works well when combined with Ziwan [Asteris Radix et Rhizoma]; it is incompatible with Zaojia [Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus], Xiaoshi [Natrii Sulfas], Xuanshen [Scrophulariae Radix], and fears Beimu [Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus], Xinyi [Magnoliae Flos], Mahuang [Ephedrae Herba], Huangqi [Astragali Radix], Huangqin [Scutellariae Radix], Huanglian [Coptidis Rhizoma], and Qingxiangzi [Celosiae Semen].)

Tao Hongjing stated: The best quality comes from Hebei; those resembling unopened buds are superior, containing silk-like fibers inside. The next best comes from Goryeo and Baekje, where the flowers resemble large chrysanthemums. Others also come from Danchang in northern Shu, but none compare to the former two. It grows under ice during winter and is harvested on the first day of the twelfth or first lunar months. The *Tang Bencao* commentary notes: Currently, it is produced in the southern mountains of Yongzhou near stream waters and in the valleys and ravines of Huazhou. The leaves resemble those of Malva but are larger, growing in clumps, with flowers emerging from below the roots. Ministers Yuxi and others carefully consulted the *Erya*, stating: "Tuxi is Kedong." The explanation says: It is a medicinal herb. Guo Pu said: "Kuandong is purple-red, with flowers growing in water." The *Yaoxing Lun* states: Kuantonghua acts as the sovereign herb. It primarily treats urgency of lung and heart qi, chronic cough due to heat and deficiency, continuous coughing, thick and sticky sputum, treating lung abscess (Fei Yong) and expectoration of pus. Rihua Zi stated: It moistens the lungs and heart, benefits the five zang organs, eliminates irritability, tonifies deficiency and debility, resolves phlegm and stops cough, treats lung abscess with hemoptysis, heart deficiency with palpitations, clears the liver and brightens the eyes, and treats wind-stroke and other diseases. It blooms in snow during the eleventh and twelfth lunar months.

The *Tujing* states: Kuantonghua is produced in the valleys of Changshan and near waters in Shangdang. It is now also found in Guanzhong. The root is purple, the stem is green-purple, and the leaves resemble those of Bibi. In the twelfth lunar month, it opens yellow flowers with green-purple calyces. Removing one or two cun of soil, the emerging flower resembles a chrysanthemum calyx, straight and plump without seeds. Thus, what Tao Hongjing described as coming from Goryeo and Baekje is close to this type. There is also a variety with red flowers; the leaves resemble lotus leaves and stand upright. Large ones can hold one sheng, small ones several ge. Commonly called Fengdouye (Bee-comb Leaf) or Shuidouye (Water-bowl Leaf). This corresponds to what the Tang commentary described as large like Malva and growing in clumps. Flowers are harvested in the eleventh lunar month and dried in the shade. Some say the flowers grow under ice and are harvested on the first day of the first lunar month. Guo Pu's commentary on *Erya* regarding Kedong states: "Purple-red, flowers grow in water." The characters for "ice" and "water" are similar, suggesting one might be an error. However, Fu Xian's preface to his *Ode to Kuandong* states: "I once chased game and ascended the Northern Mountain. At that time, in the mid-winter month, ice ridges filled the valley, and accumulated snow covered the cliffs. Looking back, I saw Kuandong vibrant, beginning to bloom beautifully. It must indeed grow under ice to be correct." The *Benjing* states it treats cough with rebellious qi. Used in formulas from ancient times to the present, it is the premier herb for treating coughs. Cui Zhiti's fumigation method for chronic cough: Each morning, take an amount of Kuantonghua the size of a chicken egg, mix with a little honey to moisten the flower, place it in an iron pan with a capacity of one sheng. Use a clay bowl with a hole drilled in it, insert a small bamboo tube into the hole (a pen tube will do); the tube should be slightly long so the bowl and pan fit together, and seal the junction and insertion point with flour paste to prevent air leakage. Place charcoal under the pan. After a short while, the smoke from Kuantonghua will naturally exit through the tube. Hold the tube in the mouth, inhale the smoke, and swallow it. If the chest feels slightly stuffy, raise the head, then pinch the end of the tube with fingers to prevent smoke leakage. Inhale until the smoke is exhausted, then stop. Perform this procedure every five days. On the sixth day, eat a full meal of mutton to achieve a permanent cure.

Lei Gong stated: Upon harvesting, one must remove the shell wrapping the stamen inside, including the solid inner part resembling millet husks. Use the stems and leaves together. Soak in licorice water overnight. Then, keep the Kuantonghua and leaves together overnight again. Before use, sun-dry them, and discard the mixed-in leaves before using.

The *Yanyi* states: Among all herbs, only Kuantonghua disregards ice and snow to be the first to welcome spring. The world also calls it Zuandong (Drilling-through Ice). Although beneath ice and snow, it sprouts when the season arrives. In spring, people sometimes harvest it as a vegetable. For medicinal use, those with just visible flowers are best. If they have fully bloomed and become fragrant, they lose efficacy. Nowadays, people often use specimens the size of chopstick tips, which likely have not yet flowered. Someone suffered from cough for many days. Someone taught him to burn three or two pieces of Kuantonghua in a windless place, inhale the smoke through a pen tube, fill the mouth, and swallow it. After a few days, there was an effect.