Tatarian Aster Root and Rhizome

Primarily produced in northeastern and northwestern China, as well as the province of Anhui.

Irregular lumps, uneven size, apex has remnants of stem and leaf, base occasionally has remnants of main root, slightly hard texture. numerous thin roots grow from the rhizomes, 3~15cm long, 0.1~0.3cm diameter, often braided into braid; externally purplish-red or grayish-red, with longitudinal wrinkles; relatively soft and pliable texture. Slightly aromatic odor, sweet and slightly bitter taste.

Superior medicinal material has long root, purplish-red color, without foreign matter, with soft and pliable texture.

Acrid, bitter, warm.

Moistens lung, downbears qi, transforms phlegm, relieves cough. Apply to cough and panting with excessive phlegm, acute and chronic cough, strained cough and hemoptysis.

'Braid zi wan’: zi wan has many rootlets growing in a cluster under the rhizomes, with a shape similar to a pony tail. Because the medicinal material has a soft texture, it is woven into braids for sale.