What Are the Benefits and Effects of the Herb Tinglizi?

Descurainia Sophia Seed belongs to the Cruciferae family and contains mustard glycosides, proteins, fatty oils, and carbohydrates. It has various medicinal effects, including promoting lung drainage and relieving asthma, clearing heat and eliminating evil, promoting urination and reducing swelling. However, it is not suitable for individuals with lung deficiency, asthma, and cough or spleen deficiency and edema. People with weak spleen and stomach or insufficient true yin should also avoid using it.

Descurainia Sophia Seed can promote lung drainage and relieve asthma, which is effective for treating conditions such as excessive mucus accumulation and asthma that prevents lying flat. Its bitter and pungent taste, cold nature, and clearing heat properties help to drain water and eliminate phlegm in the lungs, thereby relieving asthma.

It also has diuretic and anti-edema effects, which can be used to treat conditions such as edema, suspended fluid, accumulation of fluid in the chest and abdomen, and difficulty urinating. The lungs are the source of water metabolism, and when the lung qi is congested, it can lead to edema and distension due to impaired water metabolism. Descurainia Sophia Seed can unblock the congested lung qi and regulate water metabolism, thereby promoting urination and reducing edema.

The seeds of Descurainia Sophia contain various compounds such as sinapic acid, toxicoseside, yellow sucrose mustard glycoside, euonymus monosaccharide glycoside, euonymus disaccharide glycoside, glucose mustard glycoside, and sinapine. The volatile oil of the seeds contains mustard oil glycoside, erucic acid, benzyl isothiocyanate, allyl isothiocyanate, diallyl disulfide, and fatty oil.

Individuals with lung deficiency, asthma, and cough or spleen deficiency and edema should avoid using Descurainia Sophia Seed. Long-term use can lead to weakness. It is also not suitable for people with weak spleen and stomach or insufficient true yin. Additionally, it should be avoided in cases of edema caused by spleen deficiency, inability to control water metabolism, and urinary retention due to lack of qi in the bladder. Cold fluid retention, yin-type edema, and other conditions as well as weakness are also contraindications for its use.