Inula japonica Thunb. or Inula britannica L., also known as Xuanfu flower, summer chrysanthemum, or golden boiling grass, is a plant of the Asteraceae family. It is mentioned in the "Shennong Bencao Jing" (Classic of Herbal Medicine) as a dried inflorescence of the plant. The flowers are harvested during the summer and autumn seasons, and after removing impurities, they are air-dried or sun-dried.
Processing methods:
1. Xuanfu flower: According to the "Leigong Paozhi Lun" (Thunder God's Processing Theory), "remove the sepal, corolla, and stamens, steam the flower buds from the time of Si to Wu, and then sun-dry them." According to the "Jingyan Houfang" (Experience and Prescriptions), "wash the flowers clean and grind them into powder." In the "Shengji Zonglu" (Complete Record of Holy Benevolence), it is mentioned to "remove the sepals, stems, and leaves." In current practice, the original medicinal material is taken, and the stems, leaves, flower stalks, and impurities are removed, and it is sieved to remove sand and debris.
2. Honey-treated Xuanfu flower: Dilute refined honey with hot water and mix it evenly with clean Xuanfu flower. Let it sit for a while, then place it in a pot and stir-fry over low heat until the surface turns deep yellow and is not sticky to touch. Take it out and let it cool. For every 100kg of Xuanfu flower, 25kg of refined honey is used.
3. Stir-fried Xuanfu flower: According to the "Shengji Zonglu," "remove the stems and leaves, and stir-fry slightly." In current practice, take clean Xuanfu flower and stir-fry it in a pot over low heat until it develops brown spots, then take it out and let it cool.
