Acrid and bitter in flavor, neutral in nature, Ardisiae japonicae Herba (zi jin niu) suppresses cough, expels phlegm, invigorates the blood, promotes urination, and resolves toxicity. It was mentioned as early as the eleventh century in Illustrated Classic of the Materia Medica, which, after a detailed description of the plant, says simply: "Primarily treats seasonal diseases with [pathogenic] qi around the diaphragm, and is used to expel wind-phlegm." This herb has only recently been more widely used. Bensky: Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica