Known to boost the body’s defenses against seasonal change, pollutants, pathogens, and germs scattered throughout our surroundings, Siler Root, or as the Chinese translation would call Fang Feng (or the Latin Ledebouriella Root) is one of the most prized traditional herbs across the Traditional Chinese Medicine landscape.  

If you're looking for an immunity boosting herb that works - this is the one.  From flu season to pollen season, dirty airplanes to coughing colleagues, Fang Feng is the original immunity fighting herb. 

According to the Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, Fang Feng enhances the ability of our bodies "to fight against airborne pathogens" - seasonally, environmentally or year-around - naturally.  It also happens to be one of the three herbs in our Immunity Support formula, which has been keeping thousands of people healthy since we launched DAO Labs.

Fang Feng translates to “wind prevention”, the pathogenic wind that can block one's Qi and disturb the body’s natural harmony. According to Chinese medicine theory, the herb is meant to treat “wind moist disorders”.

With its regenerative and empowering immunity benefits, we just couldn’t give Fang Feng a pass, so we combined it with other Qi enhancing herbs found in the popular Chinese herbal formula, Jade Windscreen. You can learn more about the blend here, but to get familiarized with what makes Fang Feng incredibly powerful, read on.

Origins, Flavor, and Taste

Fang Feng is a medicinal root of the herbaceous perennial plant, saposhnikovia divaricata, that belongs to the family of Umbelliferae, a family of aromatic flowering plants. The root is grown in Northeast of China in Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning Provinces and also in the east of Inner Mongolia.

The roots are collected twice a year, once in spring and again in the autumn. The herb tastes slightly pungent and sweet while its fragrance is quite pleasant.

Healing Properties Recognized by Traditional Chinese Medicine

Fang Feng was traditionally used as a remedy for constipation, suppression of urine, mental disorders, delirium, and hallucinations. At present, it is highly praised for its amazing benefits and healing affect on the liver and the spleen. It’s pathogenic wind dispelling properties are well established, which also helps combat dampness.

Fang Feng’s immunity strengthening properties are usually attributed to its ability to "disperse wind pathogens and induce sweating" (you can find out more in The Healing Power of Chinese Herbs and Medicinal Recipes, here).

Fang Feng is a powerful solution for what Chinese medicine doctors consider “wind related disorders”, variations in external temperatures that may affect the body’s immunity and heat balance. Moreover, according to classical Chinese medicine texts, it’s great for cold-related headaches, body aches, chills, and tremors.

In addition, the root is a remedy against “heat arthralgia” or “wind-cold-damp pathogen stagnation” that transforms into heat and swells up the joints, making them red and hot. Several studies have also found Fang Feng to possess anti-bacterial and antipyretic properties as outlined in Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology.

To learn more about how Fang Feng contributes to broader immunity strength and support and it’s application from a formula perspective, read this brief article by DAO Lab’s Chief Medicine Officer, Dr. Erik Karchmer.

Ready to Experience the Power of Fang Feng?

Discover the power of Fang Feng along with two other essential Chinese herbs, Astragalus (Huang Qi) and Atractolydes (Bai Zhu). Give our Immunity Support formula a try!

Dr. Eric Karchmer is a practicing Chinese medical doctor, medical anthropologist, and co-founder and Chief Doctor of Chinese Medicine for DAO Labs. From 1995-2000, Eric studied at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and today is both a licensed acupuncturist and professor at Appalachian State University. Eric can be reached at drkarchmer@mydaolabs.com.