Use with caution. Review interactions and contraindications below.
TCM Properties
- Taste
- sweet
- Temperature
- neutral
- Channels
- Lung, Spleen
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Resolves phlegm and stops cough — used for productive cough, bronchitis, and phlegm-damp obstruction in the Lung; used in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management
- Dispels Wind-Cold — used for colds, flu, headache, and exterior Wind-Cold patterns
Secondary Actions
- Lowers blood pressure — modern application for hypertension in folk medicine
- Relieves rheumatic pain — used for inflammatory joint pain and rheumatic arthritis
Classic Formulas
- Fufang Fuercao Heji (复方佛耳草合剂) — registered Chinese patent medicine with G. affine as main component; indicated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Quercetin — primary active antioxidant flavonoid; anti-inflammatory and antioxidant; identified as principal bioactive component
- Luteolin — flavone; anti-inflammatory via NF-κB and COX-2 inhibition
- Chlorogenic acid and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives — phenolic acids with anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antioxidant properties
- β-Caryophyllene and γ-muurolene — major essential oil sesquiterpene components; anti-inflammatory
- Senkirkine and doronine — pyrrolizidine alkaloids present in the genus (see safety section)
Studied Effects
- Antioxidant — extract shows remarkable free radical-scavenging activity (ABTS, DPPH, superoxide, hydroxyl radicals); inhibits lipid peroxidation; quercetin identified as primary active antioxidant responsible for protective effects (PMID 23685244)
- Cardioprotective — extract protects cardiomyocytes from H2O2-induced apoptosis via PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway activation; reduces apoptosis markers and preserves cell viability (PMID 33189844)
PubMed References
Safety & Interactions
Cautions
- PYRROLIZIDINE ALKALOIDS PRESENT: Gnaphalium genus contains senkirkine and doronine — hepatotoxic and tumorigenic PAs; PA content in G. affine is lower than Senecio species and the herb is used in food (Qingming Festival) and registered pharmaceutical preparations, but avoid prolonged high-dose use
- Pregnancy, hepatic disease, and children — PA content creates elevated risk in these vulnerable populations; limit duration and dose under these conditions
- XLSX duplicate of herb_id 35 (Fo Er Cao / 佛耳草) — Shu Qu Cao (鼠曲草) is the primary pharmacopoeia name for the same plant; both names refer to Gnaphalium affine
- MSK page not found — drug interaction data not available from Memorial Sloan Kettering integrative medicine database