This product is the seed of the annual or biennial herbaceous plant white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) of the Brassicaceae family. It is mainly produced in Anhui, Henan, and other regions. At the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, when the fruits are ripe, the entire plant is harvested, dried, and the seeds are then collected. The seeds can be used raw or stir-fried.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Acrid, warm. act on lung and stomach channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Warming the lungs and resolving phlegm, promoting qi circulation and dispersing stagnation.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for cold phlegm asthma and cough, pleural fluid retention, etc. This product is pungent and warm, promoting qi movement, unblocking meridians, transforming cold phlegm, and expelling fluid retention. It is particularly effective in treating "phlegm within the membrane and skin." For cold phlegm congesting the lungs, causing cough, asthma, chest tightness, and excessive phlegm, it is combined with cultivated purple perilla fruit, radish seed, forming Three-Seed Filial Devotion Decoction. For prolonged cold wheezing, it can be combined with Asarum, Gansui Root, musk, etc., ground into powder, and applied externally to Feishu (BL13), cardiodiaphragmatic interspace, and other acupoints during summer, known as Zhang Shi-wan white mustard seed application. Modern practices include using 10% white mustard seed injection for acupoint injection at Feishu (BL13), Danzhong (CV17), and Dingchuan (EX-B1) for treatment. For pleural fluid retention with cough, asthma, chest fullness, and hypochondriac pain, it is combined with Gansui Root, Peking Euphorbia Root, etc., to expel fluid retention, such as in Drool-Controlling Pill.
2. Used for yin-type abscesses, multiple abscesses, and phlegm obstructing meridians and joints causing limb numbness, joint swelling, and pain. This product can expel phlegm from meridians, subdue swelling, dissipate bind, dredge collaterals, and relieve pain. For yin-type abscesses and multiple abscesses, it is combined with Cervi Deer-Horn Glue, Cassia Bark, Prepared Rehmannia Root, etc., to warm yang, unblock stagnation, disperse phlegm, and dissipate nodules, such as in Yang-Harmonizing Decoction. For phlegm-dampness obstructing meridians causing limb numbness or joint swelling and pain, it is combined with nux vomica, myrrh, etc., such as in Furen Liangfang white mustard seed powder.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Bencao Gangmu: "Facilitates qi, resolves phlegm, dispels cold, warms the middle, disperses swelling, and relieves pain. Treats wheezing, cough, nausea, numbness, beriberi, and various pains in the sinews, bones, and joints."
2. Bencao Jingshu: "White mustard seed is extremely pungent in taste and warm in nature. It is highly effective in searching out and removing internal and external phlegm accumulations, as well as cold phlegm and stagnant saliva in the chest and diaphragm."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 3-6g. For external use, apply an appropriate amount by grinding into powder and mixing for topical application, or use for blistering.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

This product is pungent and warm in nature, dispersing and consuming qi, damaging yin. It is contraindicated for those with chronic cough, lung deficiency, and yin deficiency with fire symptoms. It irritates the skin and mucous membranes, easily causing blisters, and is contraindicated for those with digestive ulcers, bleeding, or skin allergies. The dosage should not be excessive, as overuse can easily lead to gastroenteritis, causing abdominal pain and diarrhea.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains India mustard seed glycosides, India mustard seed alkaloids, India mustard seed enzymes, etc. The hydrolyzed products of India mustard seed glycosides have strong irritant effects, which can cause congestion and blistering. White mustard seed, when taken orally, can induce vomiting and dispel phlegm; its aqueous extract has inhibitory effects on skin fungi.