Crumpled and rolled masses. Roots conical, frequently curved, 3-7cm long; externally brown, crumpled; the root stock with brown or yellowish-white hairs, some fallen off. Leaves basal, frequently crumpled and broken, when whole, oblanceolate, greenish-brown or dark grey; apex acute or obtuse; margin lobate or pinnatifid; base becoming narrow downwards to petiole-shape; midrib of lower surface distinct. Pedicels 1 or more, each with a Capitulum on the top; involucre several layers, the inner layer relatively long; corolla yellowish-brown or pale yellowish-white. Some showing numerous long-elliptical achenes with white aigrets. Odour, slight; taste, slightly bitter.

Boils and sores, mastitis, lymphadenitis, inflammation of the eye, sore throat, lung abscess, appendicitis, jaundice cause by damp-heat, urinary infection with difficult painful urination.

1.Reducing intense heat and eliminating heat toxics:

To treat mastitis, furuncles, carbuncles, lung abscess. Intestinal abscess, etc., it is often used with Herba Violae for mutual reinforcement; both of them are common drugs frequently in treating pyogenic diseases, esp. mastitis. At the beginning stage of mastitis, red and swelling and hard, for this purpose, the drug can be used in combination with Flos Lonicerae, Fructus Forsythiae, Squama Manitis (baked and stirred), Radix Trichosanthis, etc.. To treat the intestinal abscess with abundant virulent heat, it can be used with Flos Lonicerae, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Semen Persicae, etc.; to treat furuncle, with Herba Violae, Flos Chrysanthemi Indici, Flos Lonicerae, etc.; to treat other pyogenic infections or carbuncles, with other drugs for reducing heat and eliminating heat toxicants.

2.Clearing away liver fire and improving vision:

To treat bloodshot eye due to flare-up of liver fire, it can be used with Radix Scutellaroae, Flos Chrysanthemi, Spica Prunellae, etc. The drug may be used singly or with Flos Chrysanthemi to boil with water for being as fumigant and wash. Besides, the drug has the effect of promoting urination, therefore it is often used to treat the infections of the urinary tract, jaundice due to damp-heat. It can also be used to treat the infections of the upper respiratory tract, acute tonsillitis, chronic gastritis, etc.