Excerpted from Bensky:  Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, rd ed.

• Calms the spirit and quiets the Heart:  for insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, restlessness and disorientation.  Most effective in cases related to excessive brooding or constrained, pent-up emotions as well as those related to lack of communication between the Heart and Kidneys.*
• Expels phlegm, clears the orifices, and stops coughs:  used when phlegm envelops the orifice of the Heart with such manifestations as emotional and mental disorientation, spasms, or seizures.  Also used for phlegm affecting the Lungs with copious sputum, expecially when it is difficult to expectorate.  Recently, it has also been used for angina pectoris.*
• Reduces abcesses and dissipates swellings:  for boils, abscesses, sores, and swollen, painful breasts.  Used in powdered form and applied topically for the early stages of sores.*