For the treatment of coughs in traditional Chinese medicine, the commonly used expectorant traditional Chinese medicines are as follows:

White mustard seeds are pungent in taste and neutral in nature, and enter the lung meridian. It has the effects of warming the lungs, dispelling phlegm, promoting qi and dissipating stagnation. It is suitable for patients who cough with excessive phlegm and have pain in the chest and hypochondrium.

Araceae is bitter, pungent, warm in nature, toxic, and returns to the lung, liver, and spleen meridians. It has the effects of drying dampness and resolving phlegm, dispelling wind and relieving spasm. In addition, this medicine has obvious sedative and anticonvulsant effects, and can be used for stroke patients with excessive wind and phlegm. It is often used in combination with Gastrodia elata.

Aster tastes bitter, sweet, slightly warm in nature, and returns to the lung meridian. This medicine can significantly increase the secretion of respiratory glands, dilute sputum and make it easier to cough up. It is mainly used for those who have cough, excessive phlegm and saliva, and uncomfortable coughing and vomiting.

Qianhu has a bitter, pungent taste, slightly cold nature, and returns to the lung meridian. It has the effect of lowering qi and resolving phlegm, dispersing wind and heat. It has the effect of significantly increasing respiratory tract secretions but has no obvious antitussive effect. Clinically, it is often combined with almonds, mulberry bark, etc.

Baiqian is pungent, sweet, and neutral in nature, and returns to the lung meridian. It has the effect of eliminating phlegm, lowering Qi and relieving cough. Used in combination with Platycodon, Aster, Rhizoma Rhizoma, etc., it can also be used to treat chronic cough and phlegm.

Bamboo Liquor is bitter in taste, cold in nature, and returns to the heart, lung, and stomach meridians. It has the effect of clearing away heat and resolving phlegm. It is often used for those who cough with a lot of phlegm.

Coltsfoot is pungent in taste, warm in nature, and returns to the lung meridian. It has the effect of moistening the lungs, relieving cough and reducing phlegm. Clinically, it is often combined with Aster and is a commonly used medicine for resolving phlegm and relieving cough.