Radish Seed

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

• Reduces food stagnation and relieves distension ... Lai Fu Zi is a classic seed herb for bloating, belching, foul food retention, and fullness after overeating or poor transformation.
• Directs rebellious qi downward and transforms phlegm ... it treats cough, wheezing, chest oppression, and phlegm obstruction when digestive stagnation and Lung qi rebellion coexist.
• Assists bowel movement in obstructive accumulation patterns ... when retained food and qi stagnation bind the middle, Lai Fu Zi can help move both stool and gas.

Secondary Actions

• Raw Lai Fu Zi is stronger for descending qi and transforming phlegm, while stir-fried seed is often preferred when the focus is food stagnation and middle-burner obstruction.
• Traditional teaching warns that Lai Fu Zi can reduce the tonifying effect of rich qi tonics, so it is used to break accumulation rather than to build a depleted constitution.

Classic Formulas

• Bao He Wan ... classic food-stagnation formula that illustrates Lai Fu Zi's ability to reduce retained food and move qi.
• San Zi Yang Qin Tang ... hallmark use of Lai Fu Zi with other seeds to descend qi, transform phlegm, and ease wheezing.
• Digestant combinations with Shan Zha or Shen Qu ... common strategy when severe post-prandial fullness and foul stagnation dominate the presentation.

Classical References

• Traditional materia medica describes Lai Fu Zi as acrid, sweet, and neutral, entering the Lung, Spleen, and Stomach to reduce food stagnation and direct qi downward.
• The herb is especially valued when digestive obstruction and phlegm-wheezing appear together, because it treats the retained food root and the respiratory branch at once.