Radix Ledebouriellae
Source
The root of Ledebouriella divancata (Turcz.) Hiroe, family Umbelliferae.
Characteristics
Fleshy root, long-cylindrical, with many dense annular nodes at root 
stalk
like an earthworm, named 'the head of an earthworm', setaceous leaf sheath
bundles aild fibrous bundles usually remained at the ring nodes. Tissues
loose, cracks and scattered brown small secretory oil spots in cross section.
Acrid and sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature, and attributive to
urinary bladder, liver and spleen channels.
Indication
1. Expel wind and induce sweating to expel the exogenous evils from the
body surface: For common cold of wind-cold or wind-heat type, may be used
together with other herbs, more effective for cases with headache and
body aching also for urticaria and eczema.
2. Expel dampness and alleviate pain: For arthralgia of wind-cold-dampness
type, headache and migraine.
3. Expel wind and relieve spasm: For tetanus, used together with Rhizoma
Arisaematis, Rhizoma Gastrodiae, etc.
4.
Clear away toxic materials: For chronic arsenism and mercurialism, usually
used together with Radix Glycyrrhizae.
Pharmacological
Action
1. Antipyretic: Oral use of decoction and alcoholic infusion (2.0g/kg)
can lower vaccine-induced fever in rabbits.
2. Analgesic: Oral use of alcoholic infusion (21. 18g/kg) and subcutaneous
injection (42.36g/kg) can alleviate pain.
Administration Decoction: 3-10g.