Balloon Flower

original: Jiegeng (桔梗). Platycodon grandiflorus. This plant is easily identified by its flower buds, which swell like small balloons before opening into five-pointed stars. In medicine, the root is prized for its ability to "open" the lungs and soothe the throat.

Balloon Flower Botanical name: Platycodon grandiflorus. A hardy perennial used in traditional formulas to treat coughs and respiratory congestion.

Botanical Illustration:
The accompanying woodcut illustrates the Balloon Flower plant in detail. It shows the characteristic serrated leaves and the sturdy, upright stalks topped with wide, bell-shaped blossoms. Below the surface, the illustration highlights the thick, tuberous root, which is the primary medicinal component of the plant.

Tingli

original: Tingli (葶藶). Generally refers to the seeds of Descurainia sophia (Tansy Mustard) or Draba nemorosa. It is a powerful diuretic used to drain excess fluids from the chest.

Tingli

Tingli grows in the flat marshes and fields of Gaocheng A region in modern-day Hebei province. It is found throughout the prefectures and commanderies of Jingdong, Shaanxi, and Hebei, though the variety produced in Caozhou modern-day Heze, Shandong province is considered particularly superior.

In early spring, the plant sprouts seedlings with leaves six to seven inches high, which bear a resemblance to Shepherd's Purse original: Ji (薺), Capsella bursa-pastoris. The roots are white, while both the branches and the stems are green. In the third lunar month, it blooms with tiny yellow flowers. It produces seed pods that are flat and small, like grains of broomcorn millet original: Shu (黍), though slightly elongated and yellow in color.

The seeds are harvested after the Start of Summer original: Lixia (立夏), a solar term occurring around May 5-6 and dried in the sun. The Monthly Ordinances original: Yueling (月令), a classic ritual text detailing seasonal activities states: "In the first month of summer, the delicate grasses die." The Han dynasty scholars Xu Shen and Zheng Kangcheng both noted in their commentaries that "delicate grasses" original: Micao (靡草) refer to plants of the same class as Shepherd's Purse and Tingli. Because these plants wither and die by the arrival of the summer heat, they are categorized as having a nature that is cold and capable of resolving stagnation.