Ba Jiao Hui Xiang八角茴香
Anisi Stellati Fructus · Star Anise · Chinese Star Anise
Overview
Appended to Xiao Hui Xiang 小茴香 in the textbook, star anise is the larger, sweeter, milder relative: it warms yang and disperses cold in the liver and kidney channels and eases cold abdominal and low-back pain, but with less of Xiao Hui Xiang's focus on the shan disorders. Acrid and warm, and familiar as a cooking spice, it is used medicinally in small amounts. Identification is the safety issue that dominates this entry — see the cautions.
Nature & Flavor
Acrid · WarmChannels
Liver · Kidney · Spleen · StomachTypical Dosage
3–6 g in decoctionActions
2 core actions
- Warms yang, disperses coldCold shan pain in the lower abdomen, cold aching of the low back and knees that improves with warmth.
- Regulates qi, stops painCold epigastric pain with vomiting, distension of the abdomen from cold with qi stagnation.
In Formulas
Formulas containing Ba Jiao Hui Xiang
No published formula lists this herb yet — the library is growing.
Indications & Clinical Uses
- Cold shan pain of the lower abdomen
- Cold aching low back and knees
- Cold Stomach pain with vomiting or belching
- Abdominal distension from cold with qi stagnation
Western Medical Keywords
Searchable condition terms
Contraindications
Cautions
Identification matters more here than dose. Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum, /) looks very similar, is neurotoxic through anisatin, and has caused vomiting, agitation and seizures — most often in infants given a home-made "star anise" tea. Use only pharmacopoeia-grade Illicium verum from a supplier who can identify the material; never dispense loose, unlabelled or foraged star anise, and never advise it as an infant remedy. Acrid and warm, it is also unsuitable in yin deficiency with heat and in true-heat patterns.
Contraindicated in pregnancy: Amounts used in cooking are food. Medicinal doses are warming and qi-moving and should be taken during pregnancy only under the direction of the treating practitioner.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only
References
- Appended to Xiao Hui Xiang 小茴香 in 《中药学》(新世纪第二版).
2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
3. 《中华人民共和国药典》(2020 edition).
4. 《中药学》(新世纪第二版), chapter on herbs that warm the interior.
Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.