Quick Facts
| Latin Name | Flos Farfarae |
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| Chinese Name & Pinyin | 款冬花 · Kuan Dong Hua |
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| Medicinal Part | Flowers |
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| Efficacy Category | Phlegm-resolving |
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| Botanical Origin | The dried flower bud of Tussilago farfara L.(Asteraceae). |
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| Nature & Flavour | Acrid, Slightly bitter; Warm |
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| Channels Entered | Lung |
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What Is Kuan Dong Hua?
Kuan Dong Hua (Coltsfoot Flower) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan.
Nature & Flavour: Acrid, Slightly bitter; Warm
Channels Entered: Lung
Kuan Dong Hua: Materia Medica Profile
Identification & Quality Standard
Flos Farfarae
Botanical Origin
The dried flower bud of Tussilago farfara L.(Asteraceae).
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material has 2~3 flowers in parallel, large bud, dry body, purple-red color, extremely short pedicel, with no open flowers.
Macroscopic Features
Flower bud is rod-like or long elliptical shape, singular or 2~3 in parallel, sometimes has 5 flowers; this is called ‘three linked flowers’. Often 1~3cm long, 0.5~0.8cm diameter. Flower bud and peticel have several layers of pink-purple or pale brown scale-like bracts, which covered with yellowish-brown immature tiny ligulate flowers and tubular flowers similar to purple spider-web. Clear aromatic odor; slightly bitter and acrid taste, cotton-like when chewed.
Traditional TCM Properties
Acrid, Slightly bitter; WarmLung
Traditional Functions
Transforms phlegm, stops cough, downbears qi, moistens the lung, stops vomiting. Apply to cough, panting, tuberculosis, cough with bloody phlegm.
How Kuan Dong Hua Is Used in TCM
In the Chinese materia medica, Kuan Dong Hua is classified among the Phlegm-resolving herbs. It appears in 3 classical formulas in our library.
Formulas containing Kuan Dong Hua are traditionally used for:
Asthma & WheezingCoughExcessive MucusSore Throat
Classical Formulas Containing Kuan Dong Hua
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kuan Dong Hua? Are Zi Wan, Bai Bu and Xuan Fu Hua the same?
Official Kuan Dong Hua (款冬花) is the dried flower bud of Tussilago farfara. The pharmacopoeial name is Farfarae Flos. Zi Wan is acrid-bitter and warm: moistens the Lung, downbears qi, eliminates phlegm and stops cough; the root and rhizome are used. Bai Bu is sweet-bitter and slightly warm: moistens the Lung, downbears qi, stops cough and kills parasites. Xuan Fu Hua is bitter, acrid, salty and slightly warm: downbears qi, eliminates phlegm, moves water and stops vomiting, and must be decocted in a wrap. Write Kuan Dong Hua. Use caution in yin-vacuity Lung heat.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Kuan Dong Hua?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Kuan Dong Hua is acrid, slightly bitter and warm, enters the Lung channel, and acts to moisten the Lung, downbear qi, stop cough and transform phlegm. It is used for recent or chronic cough, wheezing cough with copious phlegm, and taxation cough with blood. Acrid-warm, moistening and downbearing, it suits wheezing cough with copious phlegm—not yin-vacuity dry cough used alone.
How do you choose raw versus honey-fried Kuan Dong Hua? Can Zi Wan replace it?
Raw buds lean to transforming phlegm and stopping cough. Honey-frying with honey water until they no longer stick to the hand is better at moistening the Lung and stopping cough—Lung-vacuity chronic cough. Tatarian aster moistens the Lung and downbears qi and is often paired with it; it cannot replace the flower bud by equal weight. Commercial coltsfoot tea is not equal-weight pieces.
Learn More About Kuan Dong Hua
Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Kuan Dong Hua.
Read the Kuan Dong Hua Guide →
Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.
