Lepidium Seed, Descurainia Seed Classic Formulas … Natural Herb Library

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Drains the Lung and calms wheezing - Ting Li Zi is a key herb for excess phlegm-fluid congesting the chest with cough, wheeze, fullness, and inability to lie flat.
Promotes urination and reduces edema - traditional use includes generalized swelling and water retention, especially when the Lung can no longer descend and regulate fluids.
Descends qi and transforms phlegm - it is chosen for forceful downward draining when milder phlegm-transforming herbs are not enough.

Ting Li Da Zao Xie Fei Tang - classic formula for Lung abscess or severe phlegm-fluid congestion with inability to lie flat.
Da Xian Xiong Wan - formula logic in which Ting Li Zi helps purge heat, phlegm-fluid, and chest accumulation.
Ting Li Zi with Sang Bai Pi and Xing Ren - common pattern pairing for lung heat with wheezing and retained fluids.

Traditional references describe Ting Li Zi as bitter, acrid, and extremely cold, entering the Lung and Bladder to purge the Lung, calm wheezing, and promote urination.
Its classical power is draining and descending rather than tonifying, which is why formulas often pair it with Da Zao or other protective herbs.
The identity note matters because modern commerce may pool the two official species under one pinyin label.