Introduction of Canɡ er Zi: Siberian Cocklebur Fruit

: ✵The article records the herb Siberian Cocklebur Fruit—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical sources: two plant species—(1) Xanthium sibiricum Patrin. ex Widder and (2) Xanthium mongolicum Kitag.—with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two plants; the characteristics of the herb Siberian Cocklebur Fruit; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.

Fructus Xanthii (Siberian Cocklebur Fruit): Pinyin Name: Cānɡ ěr Zǐ
English Name: Siberian Cocklebur Fruit
Latin Name: Fructus Xanthii
Properties and Flavors: Warm, pungent, bitter, mildly toxic

Brief Introduction: Fructus Xanthii is the dried, ripe fruit of Xanthium sibiricum Patrin. ex Widder, used to dispel wind, eliminate dampness, relieve nasal obstruction, and alleviate pain—indicated for wind-cold invasion manifesting as nasal congestion, rhinitis, sinusitis, urticaria with pruritus, and rheumatic arthralgia.

Botanical Source: Fructus Xanthii (Siberian Cocklebur Fruit) is the dried, ripe fruit of Xanthium sibiricum Patrin. ex Widder—a plant belonging to the genus Xanthium L., family Asteraceae (Compositae, daisy family), order Asterales (Campanulales in past). It is also known as Siberian Cocklebur Fruit, Fruit of Siberian Cocklebur, Fructus Xanthii, or Cānɡ ěr Zǐ.

Herbal classic book define Fructus Xanthii (Siberian Cocklebur Fruit or Cānɡ ěr Zǐ) as the dried, ripe fruit of: (1) Xanthium sibiricum Patrin. ex Widder and (2) Xanthium mongolicum Kitag.—both members of the genus Xanthium L., family Asteraceae, order Asterales. These two commonly used species are described below:
(1) Xanthium sibiricum Patrin. ex Widder

Administration of Fructus Xanthii (Cānɡ ěr Zǐ):

(2) Xanthium mongolicum Kitag.