Siberian Cocklebur Fruit Classic Formulas … Natural Herb Library

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Disperses wind-cold and opens the nasal passages - Cang Er Zi is one of the classic herbs for chronic nasal obstruction, turbid discharge, and loss of smell.
Relieves frontal headache and sinus pressure - it is especially associated with forehead and nasal-root pain when the nose is blocked.
Dispels wind-damp and alleviates pain - beyond nasal use, it is sometimes added for joint pain and stiffness aggravated by cold and damp.
Addresses wind-related itching - topical or internal use appears in traditional practice for pruritus and certain wind-dominant skin eruptions.

Cang Er Zi San - classic nasal-obstruction formula pairing Cang Er Zi with Xin Yi, Bai Zhi, and Bo He for sinus congestion, turbid discharge, and frontal headache.
Wind-damp pain formulas pair Cang Er Zi with herbs such as Qin Jiao or Du Huo when joint pain accompanies an exterior wind-damp presentation.
Itching formulas may use processed Cang Er Zi internally or externally with other wind-dispelling herbs when pruritus or urticaria are dominant.

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing and later herbology traditions treat Cang Er Zi as a wind herb that became especially famous for opening the nose.
Traditional processing instructions consistently require roasting and de-thorning before internal use because toxicity is a core part of the herb's identity.