Cubeb was frequently used in the form of cigarettes for asthma, chronic pharyngitis and hay fever.

Chronic pharyngitis is the most common otolaringologic disease and may be catarrhal, hypertrophic or atrophic.

Mr. Wang is suffering from chronic pharyngitis, a throat inflammation, and prostate problems that arose during his first four-year prison term.

"When he was in Qincheng Prison he developed this chronic pharyngitis, and he always coughs," she said.