Verscienta

Ting Li Zi

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Descurainia sophia

Family: Brassicaceae Genus: Descurainia Species: sophia Pinyin: Ting Li Zi

Synonyms: Arabis sophia, Discurea sophia, Sophia sophia, Sisymbrium sophia, Crucifera sophia, Sophia vulgaris, Phryne sophia, Sisymbrium sophia var. sericea

FlixweedTansy MustardHerb SophiaTing Li Zi葶苈子
Ting Li Zi

☯ TCM Properties

Category: transforming phlegm
Temperature: cold
Taste: pungent, bitter
Meridians: lung, bladder, large intestine
Functions:

Drains the Lungs, reduces Phlegm and calms wheezing; Circulates water and reduces edema

Traditional Chinese Uses

Ting Li Zi (pepperwort or descuraina seed) is a potent downward-directing herb with a forceful action on the Lungs. It is used primarily for respiratory conditions involving excessive fluid or phlegm accumulation — wheezing, breathlessness, and cough with profuse sputum. It also drains fluid retention from the chest and abdomen and promotes urination, making it helpful when fluid has accumulated in body cavities. Because of its forceful action, it is used cautiously and in small amounts.

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:
diureticexpectorantanti-inflammatory

Botanical Description

Descurainia sophia is an annual or biennial herb in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), growing 30-80 cm tall. Stems are erect, branched, and covered in fine grayish hairs giving a mealy appearance. Leaves are 2-3 times pinnately divided into narrow segments, giving a feathery appearance. The small, pale yellow flowers are borne in elongated racemes. Fruits (siliques) are slender, 1-3 cm long, and curve slightly upward. Seeds are tiny, oblong, and orange-brown. The plant has a slightly acrid taste.

Habitat:

Disturbed habitats, roadsides, waste places, cultivated land, and stony hillsides; native to Europe and western Asia, widely naturalized throughout temperate regions worldwide.

Native Region: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Austria, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Central European Rus, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, East Himalaya, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Inner Mongolia, Iran, Iraq, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Krym, Kuwait, Lebanon-Syria, Manchuria, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, North European Russi, Northwest European R, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Qinghai, Romania, Sicilia, South European Russi, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, West Himalaya, West Siberia, Xinjiang, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia
Conservation Notes:

Descurainia sophia is a common cosmopolitan weed found throughout temperate regions. It is not threatened in the wild. No conservation concerns.

Dosage

FormAmount Frequency Duration Population Notes
decoction 3-9g daily — adult Wrap in cloth when decocting (bao jian)

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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