Herb of Asarum heterotropoides var. mandshuricum Usually rolled into a mass. Rhizomes of horizontal growth irregularly cylindrical, short-branched, 1-10cm long, 2-4mm in diameter; externally grayish-brown, rough, with ringed nodes, internodes 2-3mm long, with dish-like stem scars at the top of branch. Roots slender, densely occurring at nodes, 10-20cm long, 1mm in diameter; externally grayish-yellow, smooth or longitudinally wrinkled, with fibrous roots or scars. Basal leaves 1-3, long-petioled, surface pale green and glabrous; lamina mostly broken, when whole, cordate to reniform cordate, margin entire, sharply acute at the apex and deeply cordate at the base, 4-10cm long, 6-12cm wide. Some with flowers, mostly crumpled, campanulate, dark purple, perianth-lobes incurved at the base and almost appressed to the perianth-tube. Fruits hemigloboid. Odour, pungent and aromatic; taste, pungent with tongue-numbing feeling.

The rhizomes of cultivated forms much-branched, 5-15cm long, 2-6mm in diameter. Roots 15-40cm long, 1-2mm in diameter; leaves abundantly present.

Herb of Asarum sieboldii var. seoulense Rhizomes 1-5mm in diameter, internodes 0.1-1cm long. Basal leaves mostly 2, petioles hairy, lamina relatively thick. Perianth-lobes spread out. Fruits hemigloboid.

Herb of Asarum sieboldii Rhizomes 5-20cm long, 1-2mm in diameter, internodes 0.2-1cm long, basal leaves 1-2, lamina relatively thin, cordate, acuminate at the apex. Perianth-lobes spread out. Fruits subgloboid. Odour and taste relatively weak.

Common cold, headache, toothache; sinusitis with nasal obstruction; rheumatic arthralgia; cough and dyspnea due to retention of phlegm and fluid.

1.Dispersing the wind-cold from the superficies;

For the treatment of cold due to weak constitution, marked by chilliness and fever, episodes of bad chills and mild fever, tongue coating miosturized and smooth and deep pulse, it is often combined with Herba Ephedrae, Radix Aconiti Praeparata, thus promoting vital energy and dispersing evils from superficies.

2. Expelling wind and arresting pain;

For the treatment of vertigo and headache, it may be combined with Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii, Radix Ledebouriellae, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Racix Angelicae Dahuricae and so on; for those with toothache due to invasion of wind and cold, with Racix Aconiti 1.5g, Olibanum 3g, Radix Angelicae Dahuricae 3g; and for this purpose mentioned above, 3g of this Herva Asari and the other3 ingredients are mixed and powdered, and a little amount of the powder is used locally for each time, several times a day. For toothache due to wind-heat, the drug 3g and Gypsum Fibrosum 30g are decocted; for arthralgia due to wind, cold and dampness, it can be eith Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii, Radix Ledebouriellae, Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae, etc.

3. Dispelling the interior cold from the lung and removing the retention of fluid;

For the treatment of cough and dyspnea with retention of fluid, marked by profuse watery sputum it can be combined with Rhizoma Zingiberis,Rhizoma Pinelliae, Herba Ephedrae and so on.

4. Removing the obstruction of the nose

For the treatment of sinusitis, marked by obstruction of the nose with headache, episodes of running nose, it can be used in combination eith Racix Angelicae Dagueicae, Flos Magnoliae,Herba Menthae and so on.

Besides, it can be used locally for the treatment of aphtha and tongue sore; for this purpose, its powder mixed with water may be applide to umbilicus; at the same time, the affected area, decoction of Rhizoma Coptidis.