Cynanchum stauntonii. or C. glaucescens. 白 前 Bái qián   Willowleaf swallowwort   Family: Asclepiadaceae  
PART USED: Tuber and root- harvested in Autumn
Nature- neutral, slightly warm  FLAVOR: Pungent, sweet, bitter, Slightly acrid CHANNEL: Lung
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Antitussive and Expectorant Clearing- Cold Phlegm - This herb is slightly warm, however it is not drying.[3]
1. Redirects the Qi downwards and expels Phlegm.[3] Resolve Lung Qi blockage and stagnation.[3] Transform Sputum, calm down asthma. Clears Lung, lowers excess energy.[1] Stops coughing.[1] Helps make sputum more productive.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Coughing, asthma, dyspnea.[1]  Cough with copious sputum that is difficult to expectorate, as well as wheezing, and gurgling in the throat.[3] Cough and asthma with sputum.[2]
CONTRAINDICATIONS- Cough due to Qi defiency or the inability of the Kidneys to grasp the Qi.[3]
COMBINATIONS
HABITAT: Grows wild along water's edge where shady and damp.
DESCRIPTION
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Similar plants
Constituents
Research

Chemical composition of the volatile oil from Cynanchum stauntonii and its activities of anti-influenza virus
Yang Zai-Chang, Wang Bo-Chu, Yang Xiao-Sheng, Wang Qiang
Abstract
The volatile oil of the roots of Cynanchum stauntonii was examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-eight constituents were identified. (E,E)-2,4-Decadienal, 3-efhyl-4-methypentanol, 5-pentyl-3H-furan-2-one, (E,Z)-2,4-decadienal and 2(3H)-furanone,dihydro-5-pentyl were found to be the major components. The volatile oil exhibited the activities against influenza virus in vitro (IC50s=64 microg/ml). In in vivo experiment, it prevented influenza virus-induced deaths in a dose-dependent manner.
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2005 Jul 10;43(3-4):198-202. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2005.05.003. PMID: 15975773 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2005.05.003 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Steroids from the roots of Cynanchum stauntonii
Peng Wang, Hai-Lin Qin, Ling Zhang, Zhi-Hong Li, Ying-Hong Wang, Hai-Bo Zhu
Abstract
A chemical investigation of the roots of Cynanchum stauntonii has resulted in the characterization of a new hydroperoxide with a 13,14 : 14,15-disecopregnane-type skeleton, named stauntonine (1), together with three related compounds, anhydrohirundigenin (2), anhydrohirundigenin monothevetoside (3), and glaucogenin-C mono- D-thevetoside (4). Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods, including X-ray crystallographic diffraction analysis of stauntonine that confirmed its relative stereochemistry. The compound 1 showed dose-dependent relaxation on aortic rings with endothelium contracted by phenylepherine or KCl.
Planta Med . 2004 Nov;70(11):1075-9. doi: 10.1055/s-2004-832650. PMID: 15549665 DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-832650 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov