Niu Bang Zi (Great Burdock Fruit, Arctium) - Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese Name: Niu Bang Zi
English Name: Great Burdock Fruit, Arctium

Clinical Usage and Indications

  • Expels wind-heat (acrid), benefits throat - fever, cough, sore, red, swollen throat.
  • Clears heat (bitter, cold), relieves toxicity, vents rashes - red swellings, carbuncles, mumps, acute febrile rashes, early stages of measles with incomplete expression.
  • Moistens intestines (rich plant oil - slippery) - constipation due to wind-heat (cold nature of the herb).

Functional Groups (Click for Summary/Study Notes)

Dosage and Preparation Notes

  • Dosage: 3-9g

Channels/Meridians Influenced

Associated Temperature and Taste

Cautions and Contraindications

  • Avoid in qi deficiency, diarrhea, lack of excess heat.
  • Avoid when open sores and/or carbuncles are present.

Staff Clinician Notes

Herbal Formulas Which Include This Herb

Below you will find Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal formulas which contain this particular herb (in alphabetical order). You may click on the name of the formula for more details or click on any of the products from our store to read usage information or purchase a particular formula.

  • Xiao Feng Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Itchy and red skin lesions, possibly with weeping, comprising such conditions as psoriasis, eczema, acne, dermatitis, etc.

    The Pulse will generally be forceful, floating and rapid and the Tongue will have a yellow or white tongue coating.


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  • Yin Qiao Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Common cold, flu, general immunity, fever w/slight or no chills, headache, desire for fluids, cough, sore throat.

    Pulse will be floating and rapid and the Tongue will have a red tip with a thin white or yellow tongue coating.


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