Cremanthodium ellisii, Ming can nag po མིང་ཅན་ནག་པོ་

Himalayan Mini Sunflower
Ming can nag po (Tibet)
Kuai Gen Chui Tou Ju (TCM)

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Botanical name:

Cremanthodium ellisii (syn. C. plantagineum) is the principle species.
Two varieties of Ming can are mentioned in Tibetan texts:

1. Black (Ming can nag po): C. ellisii, C. helianthus, C. bupleurifolium
2. Yellow (Ming can ser po): C. angustifolium, C. humile, C. lineare, C. pleurocaule

Cremanthodium has been referred to as ‘the high alpine representatives of Lugularia’. (Kletter)

Parts used:

Flower, or Whole herb in flower

Temperature & Taste:

Cool, dry. Bitter, Sweet (Warm accordin gto TCM sources)

Classification:

Uses:

1. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-various types of internal Inflammation, including muscles and tendons
-Acute Sore Throat, Diphtheria
-Diarrhea (India)
-Fever

2. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough and Wheezing: (TCM)
-Cough, Asthma
-has the effect of opening the chest
-Tuberculosis (TCM)

3. Supports Qi, Settles Wind:
-taxation damage, senile vacuity deficiency headache (Encyclopedia of TCM)
-Deficiency in the elderly (TCM)
-Headache
-Hypertension

Dose:

Decoction: 6–12 grams
Powder: 2–4 grams

Substitutes:

1. Pulicaria insignis has been given as a source (Kletter and others). This may be considered a variety, or may be used as a substitute in some regions.
2. Doronicum falcioneri appears to be collected as the Yellow variety in some areas.

Main Combinations:

Major Formulas:

Aloeswood 19 (Tibetan Medicine)
Notopterygium 29 Pills (Spru nag nyer dgu) (Tibetan)

Cautions:

None noted. Cold, so not suitable in cold and weak digestion.

Main Preparations used:

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Research

1. Phenylpropanosids, lignans and other constituents from Cremanthodium ellisii.
2. Apoptosis of Hela cells induced by extract from Cremanthodium humile. (related species)
3. Anti-cancer effects have been reported in Chinese texts.
4. Anti-bacterial effects have been reported in Chinese texts.