Niu Bang Zi: Clearing Heat and Soothing the Throat in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hongji Medical
Jun 4
3 min read

Niu Bang Zi, also known as Arctium Fruit or Burdock Seed, is the dried mature fruit of the burdock plant (Arctium lappa) from the Asteraceae family. Valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for its ability to disperse wind-heat, promote lung function, soothe the throat, and detoxify, it holds a significant place in herbal therapy.

Its use was first recorded in the Ming Yi Bie Lu (Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians), classified as a lower-grade herb, noted for “improving eyesight, tonifying the middle, and dispelling wind damage.”

Over time, TCM scholars like Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty’s Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) detailed its properties, harvesting, and applications, emphasizing its ability to “disperse wind-heat, benefit the throat, and resolve toxins.” Later texts, such as Bencao Beiyao and Bencao Zhengyi, further expanded its clinical uses, making it a versatile remedy.

Properties of Niu Bang Zi

Nature and Meridian Affinity

Taste: Pungent, bitter
Nature: Cold
Meridians: Lung, Stomach

Key Components

Niu Bang Zi contains arctiin, fatty oils, vitamins, and other bioactive compounds, contributing to its pharmacological effects.

Main Functions

Disperses wind-heat.
Promotes lung function and rash eruption.
Detoxifies and soothes the throat.
Offers antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antipyretic, and immune-regulating effects.

Clinical Applications

Niu Bang Zi is widely used in TCM for:

Dispersing Wind-Heat: Treats wind-heat common cold symptoms like fever, headache, cough, and sore throat.
Promoting Lung Function and Rash Eruption: Aids in measles with incomplete rash eruption by supporting lung qi.
Detoxifying and Soothing the Throat: Relieves sore throat and hoarseness caused by heat-toxins.
Improving Constipation: Its high dietary fiber content promotes intestinal motility, relieving constipation.

Niu Bang Zi in Classic TCM Formulas

Niu Bang Zi is often combined with other herbs in TCM formulas to enhance its effects:

Yin Qiao San (Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder): Contains Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua), Forsythia (Lian Qiao), Bitter Orange (Ku Jie Geng), Mint (Bo He), Bamboo Leaf (Zhu Ye), Licorice (Gan Cao), Fermented Soybean (Dan Dou Chi), and Niu Bang Zi. It disperses wind-heat and detoxifies, treating wind-heat colds with fever, headache, and sore throat.
Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin (Universal Benefit Decoction to Eliminate Toxins): Includes Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Coptis (Huang Lian), Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi), Licorice (Gan Cao), and others with Niu Bang Zi. It clears heat and toxins, treating epidemic diseases with head swelling and sore throat.
Tou Zhen Tang (Rash Eruption Decoction): Combines Niu Bang Zi, Cimicifuga (Sheng Ma), Pueraria Root (Ge Gen), Cicada Slough (Chan Tui), and others to promote rash eruption in early measles.

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Comparison with Similar Herbs

Niu Bang Zi shares functions with other TCM herbs but has unique traits:

Mint (Bo He): Stronger at dispersing wind-heat and clearing head symptoms, used early in colds, unlike Niu Bang Zi’s throat-soothing focus.
Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua): Potent in clearing heat-toxins and cooling blood, more suited for sores than Niu Bang Zi.
Forsythia (Lian Qiao): Similar in clearing heat and wind-heat but milder, complementing Niu Bang Zi’s actions.

Modern Applications and Research

Modern studies validate Niu Bang Zi’s traditional uses:

Antibacterial: Inhibits various bacteria and fungi.
Anti-inflammatory: Reduces inflammation by suppressing mediators.
Antiviral: Shows activity against certain viruses.
Antipyretic: Lowers body temperature in feverish conditions.
Immune Regulation: Enhances immune function and resilience.

Clinically, Niu Bang Zi is used for respiratory conditions, skin issues like acne and eczema, and as an adjunct in diabetes management.

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Precautions for Use

Dosage: Typically 6–12 grams, adjusted based on condition and practitioner guidance.
Contraindications: Use cautiously in cases of spleen deficiency with loose stools.
Compatibility: No specific herb incompatibilities noted.
Preparation: Often roasted to moderate its cold nature.

Conclusion

Niu Bang Zi is a versatile TCM herb, prized for dispersing wind-heat, soothing the throat, and promoting lung and bowel health. Its long history, from Ming Yi Bie Lu to modern applications, highlights its value in treating colds, sore throats, and skin conditions. Proper use under professional guidance ensures safety and efficacy, with ongoing research expanding its potential in modern medicine.

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中醫知識

Chinese Medicine - Qi

Blood and semen

Heart and lungs

Spleen and Liver

Kidney

Gallbladder, stomach, intestines, bladder

Interrelationships among the five internal organs

Other questions

Qi is the constantly moving subtle substance that constitutes the human body and maintains its vital activities.

There are three main sources of Qi in the human body: the innate essence inherited from parents, the essence of water and grain in food, and the pure Qi existing in nature.

Qi has many important physiological effects on the human body. The normal functioning of the internal organs, meridians, limbs, bones, five senses and nine orifices all depends on the physiological effects of Qi.

Generally speaking, the physiological effects of Qi include five aspects: promotion, warming, defense, consolidation, and qi transformation.

Yuan Qi is the most original Qi in the human body.

Yuan Qi is mainly composed of the essence of the kidneys and is generated from the essence of the kidneys.

The distribution of primordial energy is throughout the body, reaching everywhere. The internal organs, meridians, body parts, five senses and nine orifices are all places where primordial energy rises, falls, enters and exits.

The main physiological functions of Yuan Qi are twofold: one is to promote and stimulate the growth, development and reproduction of the human body. The other is to promote and stimulate the physiological activities of the internal organs and meridians.

If the kidneys are deficient in essence and energy due to congenital deficiency, postnatal malnutrition, or long-term illness, and the kidneys lack the source of vital energy, various diseases may occur.

Zong Qi is the Qi that accumulates in the chest. The place where Zong Qi accumulates is called "Tan Zhong" (between the two breasts). Because it is the place where Zong Qi is most concentrated, it is also called "Qi Hai".

Zong Qi is mainly composed of the fresh air from nature inhaled by the lungs and the essence of water and grain produced by the spleen and stomach from food.

The main functions of Zong Qi are twofold:

1. It is to walk the Xi Dao to control breathing. All breathing, speech, and voice are related to the Zong Qi. When the Zong Qi is abundant, the breathing is slow and the rhythm is even, the speech is clear and the voice is loud; otherwise, the breathing is short and the voice is low.

Second, it is to circulate Qi and blood through the heart meridians. All the beating of the heart and the circulation of Qi and blood are related to Zong Qi. If the pulse is gentle, the rhythm is consistent, and there is spirit and root, it is a manifestation of abundant Zong Qi. On the contrary, if the pulse is agitated, scattered, weak, or irregular, it means that the Zong Qi is insufficient or even weak.

Zhongqi refers to the Qi of the middle burner. Because the spleen and stomach are located in the middle burner, the Qi of the spleen and stomach is generally called "Zhongqi".

It is generally believed that the formation of Zhong Qi is formed by the combination of the Yuan Qi distributed in the Zhongjiao and the water and grain essence produced by the spleen and stomach.

The middle qi is mainly distributed in the middle burner, spreading between the spleen, stomach, and intestines, and it rises and falls, constantly mediating.

The main functions of Zhongqi include three aspects:

1. It controls the rise and fall of Qi. The middle burner is the hub of the rise and fall of Qi. When the middle Qi is abundant and harmonious, the Qi of the liver and spleen will rise healthily, and the Qi of the lungs and stomach will descend smoothly. When the rise and fall are smooth, all organs will be at peace.

Second, it stimulates the spleen and stomach to absorb and transport. When the middle qi is abundant, the spleen rises and the stomach descends normally, the water and grain are received and transported normally, and the essence of water and grain is continuously produced to generate qi and blood, nourishing the whole body.

Third, it maintains the position of the internal organs. The reason why the internal organs maintain their relatively constant position depends on the rise and fall of the qi of the middle jiao spleen and stomach.

Ying Qi, also known as "Rong Qi", is the Qi that flows in the veins.

The distribution and movement of Ying Qi are clearly discussed in Suwen Bi Lun, which points out that Ying Qi "harmonizes the five internal organs, flows through the six bowels, and then enters the meridians."

It explains that the nutrient energy enters the meridians, circulates throughout the body, flows into the internal organs, and reaches the limbs, repeating the cycle over and over again.

The main functions of Ying Qi:

1. It is the transformation of blood.

Second, it nourishes the whole body. The nourishing qi enters the blood vessels and causes the body fluids to penetrate into the blood vessels. The two combine to form blood.

The so-called Qi can produce blood, mainly refers to: Ying Qi transforms into blood. Ying Qi is produced by the refined part of the essence of grains, and is a nutrient necessary for physiological activities such as viscera and meridians, and plays an important role in maintaining human life activities.

The Inner Canon of Medicine states that the Nutritive Qi "harmonises the five internal organs, and spreads throughout the six bowels", "nourishes the four extremities", etc., which emphasizes that the Nutritive Qi has a nourishing effect.

Wei Qi is the Qi that circulates outside the veins. It is so called because it protects the skin and resists external pathogens.

The distribution of Wei Qi is fast, smooth and agile, and is not restricted by blood vessels, so it can "flow through the skin, between the flesh, fumigate the peritoneum, and spread to the chest and abdomen" (Suwen Bi Lun). This shows that Wei Qi spreads throughout the body, externally between the skin and muscles, and internally to the peritoneum of the chest and abdomen - the area inside the diaphragm of the chest cavity.

The main physiological functions of Wei Qi are three-fold:

First, it protects the skin and prevents the invasion of external pathogens. In clinical practice, if a patient is prone to colds and fever, the treatment is usually based on the theory that the Wei surface is not solid. The theoretical basis is here. Second, it warms the internal organs, muscles, fur, etc. Wei Qi has a strong warming effect. If Wei Yang is deficient, the warming power is weakened, and cold symptoms such as cold body, cold limbs and low body temperature may appear. If Wei Qi is stagnant and turns into heat, hot symptoms such as fever and malignant fever may appear.

Third, it regulates the opening and closing of pores and controls sweat excretion, which is what Lingshu Benzang says about the Wei Qi having the function of “controlling opening and closing”.

Niu Bang Zi: Clearing Heat and Soothing the Throat in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Properties of Niu Bang Zi

Nature and Meridian Affinity

Key Components

Main Functions

Clinical Applications

Niu Bang Zi in Classic TCM Formulas

Comparison with Similar Herbs

Modern Applications and Research

Precautions for Use

Conclusion

Related Posts

中醫知識

The concept of Qi

Vitality

Zong Qi

Middle Qi

Ying Qi

Health

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