Ilex asprella. 崗 梅 根  Gǎng méi gēn, Mei shi tong xing  Rough leaved holly    Family: Aquifoliaceae    
Nature: Cold, Cool   FLAVOR: Bitter, Slightly pleasant, slightly sweet
FUNCTIONS
1. Clears Fevers and detoxifies.[1,2]
2. Promotes salivation and quenches thirst.[1] Produce fluids.[2]
3. Benefit throat, disperse coagulation, relieve pain.[2]
4. Reduces swelling and resolves clots (bruises).[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Common Cold with fever, thirst, sore throat.[1] High fever in colds, laryngitis, acute tonsillitis.[1]
2. External applications for pain due to blood coagulations.[1] Traumatic injuries, boils and abscesses.[1]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
- Flu and colds at the first stage: Exterior releasing- cooling- The diaphoretic action (sweating effect) moves circulation to the surface to clear invading microbes affecting the Lungs/throat- Gan mao ling.
PREPARATIONS: Decoction. Roots 15-60 g. For external purposes, a suitable amount may be used.[1] Dry root 15-30 g.[2]
HABITAT: Found growing on hillsides, wild places, open woods or in shrub thickets.
DESCRIPTION: Deciduous shrub. Subterranean root woody, yellowish-white. Stem: with numberous branches, bark bluish-green with numerous scattered white lenticels, shaped like scale marks. Leaves: alternate, ovate, obovate or elliptical, apexes acuminate or sharply acute, bases rounded, margins finely serrate. Flowers: in spring-summer, yellowish-white flowers appear from leaf axils to form cymose inflorescences. Drupe globose, black when ripe.
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.
References

The roots of Ilex asprella extract lessens acute respiratory distress syndrome in mice induced by influenza virus
Wei-Ping Dai, Geng Li, Xiong Li, Qiu-Ping Hu, Jian-Xing Liu, Feng-Xue Zhang, Zi-Ren Su, Xiao-Ping Lai
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance: In traditional Chinese medicine, the root of Ilex asprella (Hook. & Arn.) Champ. ex Benth. (IA) has been widely used to treat influenza, lung abscess and other diseases in South China for many years. The present study is aimed at investigating the treatment effect of IA on acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by the H1N1 virus in mice.
Materials and methods: After being inoculated with several viral doses of influenza A/FM/1/47 H1N1 virus, mice were given oral administration of IA extract (500 mg/kg or 12 5mg/kg per day) for five or 10 consecutive days, respectively. Mice survival rate and clinical condition were observed for 15 days after inoculation. Lung weight, pathological analysis and arterial blood gas analysis were assessed. Lung viral load was quantified by RT-PCR. Moreover, immunological analysis was measured by leukocyte counts and the levels of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, MCP-1 and IL-12p 70 in serum of mice.
Results: We found that the extract of Ilex asprella at dosages of 500 mg/kg could effectively diminish mortality rate, and ameliorate lung edema and inflammation. Administration of IA extract significantly depressed the expression of IL-6, TNF-α and MCP-1, and significantly increased the expression of IL-10 and IFN-γ in serum. Simultaneously, the extract was also found to reduce the lung viral load and improve pulmonary ventilation.
Conclusion: The present study shows that the extract of IA has the potential to treat ARDS, due to its abilities of attenuation of systemic and pulmonary inflammatory responses and inhibition of viral replication.
J Ethnopharmacol 2014 Sep 29;155(3):1575-82. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.07.051. Epub 2014 Aug 4. PMID: 25102242 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.07.051 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov