Introduction of Zi Wan:Tartarian Aster Root or Radix Asteris.

TCM Herbalism:Medicinals and Classifications. ✵The article gives records of the herb Tartarian Aster Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Aster tataricus L.f., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Tartarian Aster Root its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Radix Asteris(Tartarian Aster Root).

a flowering plant of Aster tataricus,with a purple flower. Pin Yin Name: Zǐ Wǎn.
 English Name: Tartarian Aster Root.
 Latin Name: Radix Asteris.
 Property and flavor: warm, bitter.

 Brief introduction: The herb Radix Asteris is the dried root and rhizome of Aster tataricus L.f., used as an expectorant and antitussive for a cough with profuse phlegm and also for phthisical cough. The herb is commonly known as Radix Asteris, Tartarian Aster Root, Zǐ Wǎn.

 Botanical source: The herb Radix Asteris (Tartarian Aster Root) is the dried root and rhizome of Aster tataricus L.f., they are plants of the Aster L. genus, the Asteraceae family (Compositae, daisy family) of the Campanulales order.

 Herbal classic book defined the herb Radix Asteris (Tartarian Aster Root) as the dried root and rhizome of:(1). Aster tataricus L.f. This commonly used species is introduced:

(1).Aster tataricus L.f.


 flowering plants of Aster tataricus L.f. growing in a cluster,with several purple flowers Botanical description: The plant, Aster tataricus L.f. is also known as Qīng Niú Shé Tou Huā. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 40–150 cm tall. Stems are upright, often unbranched, stout, and sparsely hispid. The rhizome is short, and densely covered with many fibrous roots. Basal leaves are withered in anthesis (the flowering phase), deciduous, oblong-spatulate or ellipsoid-spatulate, 20~50 cm long, 3~13 cm wide, the base is descending; cauline leaves are alternate, sessile; leaf blades are oblong oval or lanceolate, 18~35 cm long, 5~10 cm wide, midrib is stout, with 6~10 pairs of pinnate lateral veins.

 flowering plants of Aster tataricus L.f.,with purple flowers Many capitula (flower heads), 2.5~4.5 cm in diameter, are arranged in a corymbose pattern. Involucral bracts are semiglobe (semi-spherical), 10~25 mm wide, involucral bracts are in 3 layers, the outer layer is gradually shorter, the all or upper part is grassy, the apex is pointed or rounded, the margin is broadly membranous, purplish-red; the inflorescence margin has ligulate flowers, about 20, female flowers, blue-purple, the ligulate apex is 3-dentate, style, stigma is bifurcated; the central part has many tubular flowers, hermaphroditic, yellow, the apex is 5-dentate; 5 stamens; the stigma is bifurcated.

 Achenes are obovate-oblong, flat, purple-brown, 2.5–3 mm long, with 1 or at least 3 veins on each side, the upper part is covered with short appressed hairs, and the pappus is stained white (dirty white) or reddish. Its flowering period is from July to September, and the fruiting period is from September to October.

 a drawing of Aster tataricus L.f.,whole plant with flowers,roots and stems Ecological environment: The plant grows on shady slopes and in marshes of low hills, hilltops, and low-lying grassland and marshes. The plant is mainly distributed in the northern area, south of Gansu and north of Anhui, west of Henan, in China.

 Growth characteristics: The plant prefers a warm and humid climate, is resistant to cold and waterlogging, and is afraid of drought. The root can pass winter safely at low temperatures of -20 °C (Celsius, or -4 degrees Fahrenheit) in winter. It is appropriate to choose a field with deep soil layers, loose and fertile, humus-rich sandy loam, and good drainage for cultivation. Should avoid clay soil and saline soil. Avoid continuous cropping.

 dried herb segments of Tartarian Aster Root Characters of herbs: The rhizome is an irregular block, 2~5 cm long, and 1~3 cm in diameter; the surface is prunus (violet red) or pinkish-gray, different in size. There are residues of stem base and petiole residual marks at the top, and many fine roots are clustered in the middle and lower parts. The texture of the herb is hard and firm, and the fracture surface is flat and oily (oleosus). Many roots, thin and long, 6~15 cm long, and 1~3 mm in diameter, are mostly braided; the surface is purplish red or grayish red, has vertical wrinkles; the texture of the herb is pliable and tough, easy to break, the fracture surface is light brown, purplish red around the edge, and there is a small duramen (wooden core) in the center. The herb is slightly fragrant and tastes sweet and slightly bitter. The herb of a better grade has long roots, purple-red color, and the texture is pliable and tough.

 Pharmacological actions: ①.Expectorant and cough suppressant; ②.Antibacterial effect:In vitro test, the decoction had a certain inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, Dysentery bacillus, Bacillus proteus, Bacillus typhi, Bacterium paratyphosum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Spirillum cholerae.

 Medicinal efficacy: Moistening lung and downbear Qi (sending down abnormally ascending), eliminating phlegm and relieving cough, indicated for the treatment of asthmatic cough with much phlegm, new cough and chronic cough, over-strained cough and hemoptysis.

 Administration of Radix Asteris (Zǐ Wǎn): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Radix Asteris (Zǐ Wǎn)
TCM Books: ①.Internally:5~9 grams; ②.0.5~3 qian (about 1.5~9 grams); ③.4.5~10 grams, water decoction; prepare to finely ground herb powder and prepared to pill, powder.

 

 
  

 

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References:
  • 1.Introduction of Zi Wan:Tartarian Aster Root or Radix Asteris.

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