款冬花
Kuan = Welcome
Dong = Winter
Hua = Flower
Spicy (dispersing) and slightly warm (but not drying or draining)
Lung only
In English we call it coltsfoot. It blooms in late fall (hence, I'm guessing, the name), just at the time when a lot of people get sick.
It will moisten the lungs, direct lung qi downward, and transform phlegm. That's important. The phlegm part. For a cough, wheeze, hot or cold cough, excess or deficient. Very versatile this pretty little herb is.
In Western terms, it's a relaxant (for uncontrollable cough, bronchial spasms), a bronchodilator, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and demulcent. Seems like a good bet for any kind of cough.
It does contain a carcinogen, however, and therefore is restricted in some countries. High doses may cause liver cancer. Typical dosage is from 4.5-9 grams. Widely used in China due to the poor air quality.
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