1. Bitter Apricot Kernel. Relieves coughing and wheezing, moistens the intestines, and promotes bowel movements. Primarily enters the lung meridian, serving as a key herb for treating cough and asthma. Combined with Fritillaria and Glehnia root, it clears the lungs, moistens dryness, and stops coughing.
2. Stemona Root. Moistens the lungs, stops coughing, and kills parasites. Slightly warm without dryness, it moistens the lungs and relieves coughing, proving effective for both internally caused coughs and chronic coughs.For wind-cold coughs, combine with herbs like Schizonepeta and Platycodon. 3. Aster. Used for coughs with phlegm. Primarily enters the Lung Meridian, excelling at moistening the lungs, descending qi, transforming phlegm, and stopping cough. Combined with Donkey-hide Gelatin and Fritillary Bulb, it nourishes yin, moistens the lungs, transforms phlegm, and stops cough. 4. Tussilago.Traditional Chinese medicine considers Winterflower pungent and warm in nature, entering the Lung Meridian. It moistens the lungs, descends qi, and stops coughing while resolving phlegm. This herb disperses with its pungent quality while retaining a moist nature—warming without dryness—making it an excellent remedy for moistening the lungs, stopping coughs, and resolving phlegm. It is suitable for various types of coughing and wheezing.It can be selected for coughs arising from external pathogens, internal injuries, cold-type coughs, or heat-type coughs, hence its reputation as a key cough-treating herb. Characterized by its warming yet non-heating, pungent yet non-drying, and sweet yet non-stagnating properties, it is most suitable for chronic coughs due to lung deficiency and coughs with abundant phlegm caused by lung cold.It excels at resolving phlegm for various coughs, primarily treating cold-induced coughs and lung-heat coughs when combined with herbs like mulberry bark (桑白皮) and trichosanthes root (瓜蒌). The Benjing Fengyuan (本经逢原) records its effects: "Moistens the lungs, eliminates phlegm, stops coughing, and calms wheezing."
5. Ophiopogon (麦冬). Sweet and cold in nature with a moist texture, Ophiopogon nourishes yin, generates fluids, moistens the lungs, and clears the heart. It excels at nourishing yin in the lungs and stomach while clearing heat from the heart meridian, making it a tonic that both nourishes and clears. The standard dosage is 10–15 grams. It can be used in pills, powders, decoctions, or as a tea infusion.Traditionally, Ophiopogon with the heart removed is preferred for nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, benefiting the stomach, and generating fluids, while Ophiopogon with the heart intact is favored for clearing the heart and relieving restlessness.