Pepperweed Seed

Primarily produced in central southern and eastern China.

Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl: long spherical and slightly flat shape, 0.8~1.2mm long, about 0.5mm diameter; externally yellowish-brown, one end is blunt round, another end is slightly indented or relatively flat, center is indented, hilum is at the concave end, surface of the seed has dense reticular patterns and 2 longitudinal shallow grooves. faint odor, slightly acrid taste, slightly sticky. Lepidium apetalum Willd.: flat oval shape, 1~1.5mm long, 0.5~1mm wide. Externally yellowish-brown or reddish-brown, slightly lustrous, with numerous tiny granular protrusions, can see 2 longitudinal shallow grooves, one groove is relatively obvious, one end is blunt round, another end is gradually pointed and slightly indented, hilum is at the concave end, but is not obvious. faint odor, slightly bitter and acrid, taste, very sticky.

Superior medicinal material is full, even, reddish-brown.

Acrid, bitter, very cold.

Drains lung, downbears qi, disperses phlegm, calms panting, promotes urination, eliminates swelling, removes and expels evil. Apply to asthma and excessive phlegm due to obstruction of lung by phlegm and saliva, pulmonary abscess, edema, dropsy in thoracic and abdominal cavities, difficulty in micturition, chronic cor pulmonale, dyspnea and emphysema due to cardiac failure, scrofula and tuberculosis.