Long-obovate, slightly flattened, somewhat curved, 5-7 mm long, 2-3 mm wide. Externally grayish-brown, purplish-black mottled, with several longitudinal ribs, usually 1-2 middle ribs relatively distinct. Summit obtused-rounded, slightly broad, with a circular ring at the top, and a pointed remain of style in the center; base slightly narrowned, bearing surface pale in colour. Pericarp relatively hard, cotyledons 2, yellowish-white, oily. Odourless; taste, bitter, slightly pungent and numb.

Cough and expectoration in influenza or upper respiratory infection due to wind-heat; measles; rebella; sore throat; mumps; erysipelas, carbuncles and sores.

1. Dispersing wind-heat from the superficies

It is often combined with Herba Schizomepetae, Racix Platycodi, Radix Glycyrrhizae, etc., for the treatment of cold caused by wind-heat, accompanied with itching throat and cough, expectoration of scanty and sticky sputum, etc.

2. Soothing the throat and dispersing the mass due to retention of evils

For the treatment of sore throat due to invasion by wind-heat, it is often combined with drugs for dispersing wind-heat; for that due to fire, it is often used in combination with those drugs with effects of purging fire and removing toxic materials; for the treatment of sore throat due to abundant wind-fire and virulent heat-evil, with both the drugs for dispersing wind-heat and those for purging fire and diapelling virulent heat.

.3. Ventilating the lung and facilitating eruption

It is often combind with Radix Ledebouriellae, Herba Schizonepetae, Flos Lonicerae and others for dispersing wind, Promoting eruption and removing toxic materials for the treatment of measles with retardation of eruption, urticaria, etc.

4. Removing toxic materials and relieving pyogenic infection of the skin

It is often combined with the drugs for dispelling evil heat and removing toxic materials of carbuncle or pyogenic infection of the skin, accompanied with either syndrome of wind-heat or constipation.