Characteristics Root tuber long-cambiform, slightly curved, 5-18 cm long. Surface with bark removed appearing yellow-white to yellow-brown, semi-opaque, slightly longitudinally wrinkled. Fracture surface showing a narrow stele and a broad cortex. Soft and sticky in texture. Sweet and bitter in taste, cold in nature, and attributive to lung and kidney channels.

Indication Nourish yin, clear away heat, moisturize the lung and benefit the kidney: For yin-deficiency with lung dryness manifested as dry cough, hemoptysis, dry throat and thirst; diabetes with consumption of body fluid; yin-deficiency with hectic fever, night sweat, nocturnal emission, flaccidity of lower limbs; constipation due to dryness of intestine. Recently, used for chronic pharyngolaryngitis, whooping cough, mammary hyperplasia, breast cancer, malignant lymphoma, etc.

Pharmacological Action Asparamide and B-sitosterol are the chief cornponents.

1. Asparamide is an expectorant, antitussive and antiasthmatic.

2. Inhibiting the cell growth of acute lymphocytic, acute monocytic and chronic granulocytic leukemias in vitro.