← Reference library
    Yemama Apothecary

    Bencao Gangmu Reference Library

    Phlegm-Liquefying, Antitussive, Bronchial-Clearing & Jaundice-Draining Sovereign (清热解毒 / 清肺止咳化痰定喘利水消肿利湿退黄活血止血 — 岭南塘葛菜煲生鱼汤清热止咳第一野菜 / 慢性支气管炎化痰圣药)

    蔊菜 / 野油菜 / 辣米菜 / 塘葛菜 / 蔊菜草 / 鹅甜菜 — Rorippa indica (L.) Hiern (syn. Nasturtium indicum)

    Pinyin: Hǎncài / Yě Yóucài / Tánggěcài · Malay: Sawi Tanah / Sawi Padang / Tang Ge Cai · Family: Brassicaceae (十字花科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to Neutral (平 / 微凉)

    Flavor

    Pungent, slightly bitter, crisp mustard-radish peppery (辛、苦、清凉、微辣)

    Meridians

    Lung (肺), Liver (肝), Stomach (胃), Urinary Bladder (膀胱)

    Traditional Edict

    Indian Fieldcress (Sawi Tanah / Han Cai / Tang Ge Cai). Pungent mustard cress with yellow flowers. Lingnan soup sovereign (Tang Ge Cai Bao Sheng Yu Tang): powerfully liquefies stubborn bronchial phlegm, cures chronic bronchitis, drains hepatitis jaundice.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Mild peppery mustard bite. High culinary, dietary, and clinical safety profile with centuries of daily Cantonese soup use. Contraindicated in cold watery diarrhea without heat signs.

    Clinical Applications

    • Chronic bronchitis and asthmatic tracheitis with thick yellow sputum, acute icteric viral hepatitis (reducing transaminases and bilirubin), functional dyspepsia, and acute tonsillitis.

    Quality Markers

    Rorifone (蔊菜素 / Isothiocyanate) >= 0.50%-1.20% & Sinigrin >= 1.00% (HPLC Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Rorifone stimulates respiratory tract serous gland secretion, breaking down disulfide mucin bonds to liquefy tenacious bronchial phlegm. 2. AITC stimulates hepatobiliary bile drainage. 3. Broad-spectrum bactericidal lysis.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN TANG GE CAI LUNG-CLEARING SNAKEHEAD FISH SOUP: 150 to 200 g fresh Sawi Tanah simmered with fresh Snakehead fish (Ikan Haruan), red dates, and ginger in 1.5 L water for 40 min; consumed warm for chronic cough. Dried herb decoction: 15-30 g.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. Classical Lingnan Tang Ge Cai Lung-Clearing Soup with Ikan Haruan and Chen Pi. 2. Icteric Hepatitis Jaundice Clearance Decoction with Phyllanthus niruri (Dukung Anak).

    Enter your email to unlock the full clinical data and formulation notes.

    No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only