Water aster

Water aster

(Shaanxi Chinese herbal medicine)

[synonym] sauerkraut.

[source] it is the root of Lactuca sativa L.

[plant morphology] Lactuca sativa

Perennial herbs, 80-150 cm high. The stem has long soft hairs when young. Leaves basal and alternate, winged, long stalked, ovate or horseshoe shaped, 12 cm long, margin triangular, obtuse serrate with a sharp tip, base often embracing stem and auricular. Inflorescence many, integrated columnar narrow conic; all ligulate flowers, yellow. Achene obovate elliptic, 4 mm long, corolla white.

It grows in the thickets of high mountains and hillsides. Distributed in Shaanxi, Anhui, Zhejiang and other places.

[collection] collect and dig in June and dry in the sun.

[flavor] pungent, flat.

Functions and indications: relieving cough, resolving phlegm and dispelling wind. Treatment of cold, cough, tuberculosis.

[usage and dosage] oral: decoction, 2-3 yuan.

[optional prescription] cough treatment: water aster, winter flower, Platycodon grandiflorum each three money, licorice one money, decoction.