The drug is collected in summer and autumn at theearly stage of flowering, removed from foreign matter, washedclean, and dried in the sun.
Preserve in a ventilated dry place, protected from moisture andmoth.
The drug can be used either fresh or dried.  

Actions

for swelling, pain in breast cancer, boils, lung cancer withcoughing blood and puss. It is effective for heat type of breastcancer and boils.

Medical functions

1. promote bile secretion
2. protects liver
3. diuretic effect (contain large amount of potassium)
4. inhibits staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella spp., 5. Neisseria meningitidis,Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, ECHOvirus, and Leptospira.
6. improves digestion
7. mild laxative effect 

Modern use

Contraindications

Long-term use or overuse may cause diarrhea.