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Cura x Cura

Bo He薄荷

Menthae Herba, Menthae Haplocalycis Herba · Chinese Mint · Field Mint

Herbs that Release the Exterior 解表药《新修本草》

Overview

The aerial parts of Chinese field mint, and the lightest of the acrid-cool herbs that release the exterior: acrid and cool, entering the Lung and Liver channels, it lifts wind-heat off the surface, clears the head, eyes and throat, and gently frees constrained Liver qi. Its volatile oil is both its strength and its limit — it goes into the pot in the last few minutes, since long cooking drives the aroma off.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid · Cool

Channels

Lung · Liver

Typical Dosage

3–6 g in decoction
薄荷Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Disperses wind-heatEarly-stage wind-heat with fever, headache and a sore throat, typically alongside Jin Yin Hua and Lian Qiao.
  • Clears the head and eyes, benefits the throatHeadache with a heavy, muzzy head, red eyes, hoarseness and a swollen painful throat.
  • Vents rashesMeasles-type rashes that are slow to come out, and itchy wind rashes held at the surface.
  • Courses the Liver, relieves constraintA small amount in Xiao Yao San, where the point is unbinding Liver qi rather than releasing the exterior.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Bo He

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Wind-heat common cold: fever, headache, sore throat
    - Red eyes, muzzy head, hoarse or lost voice
    - Rashes slow to vent; itchy skin
    - Liver-qi constraint with chest and flank oppression

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Common coldPharyngitisTension headacheUrticaria

Contraindications

Cautions

Aromatic, light and dispersing, so it readily consumes fluids: use it cautiously where yin is deficient with heat, and avoid it where there is qi-deficient spontaneous sweating. Tradition holds that it reduces breast-milk supply, so nursing mothers should take it only on advice. Not suited to prolonged or high-dose use.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Not a classical contraindication, but keep to small, short-course amounts in pregnancy — practitioner judgment applies.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Xin Xiu Ben Cao《新修本草》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

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.