I was told to use 川贝 when I had bad cough many years ago. So, when I saw my office mate coughing, I offered to get some 川贝 from a drug store in Chinatown. A big mistake. She had stomach ache, and then diarrhea and throwing up.

I have learned a good lesson: Not to give anyone Chinese medicine, just because it helped me.

What is Chuan Bei Mu (川贝母)?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulbus_fritillariae_cirrhosae