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Cura x Cura

Ding Xiang丁香

Caryophylli Flos · Clove · Clove Flower Bud

Herbs that Warm the Interior 温里药《雷公炮炙论》

Overview

The dried flower bud of the clove tree, acrid, warm and strongly aromatic. It is the first herb reached for when cold in the Stomach drives qi upward as hiccup, belching or vomiting, and it warms the middle and the Kidney at the same time. A small herb with a large dose ceiling — three grams a day is the working limit.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid · Warm

Channels

Spleen · Stomach · Lung · Kidney

Typical Dosage

1–3 g in decoction
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Actions

3 core actions

  • Warms the middle, redirects qi downwardHiccup, belching and vomiting from Stomach cold, with poor appetite and a preference for warmth — classically paired with Shi Di 柿蒂.
  • Disperses cold and stops painCold epigastric and abdominal pain that eases with warmth and pressure; also applied locally for toothache.
  • Warms the Kidney and assists yangCold in the lower burner with impotence, cold limbs and a cold aching low back.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Ding Xiang

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Hiccup, belching and vomiting from cold in the Stomach
    - Cold epigastric or abdominal pain relieved by warmth
    - Poor appetite with a cold, weak digestion
    - Kidney-yang deficiency with cold limbs and impotence

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

HiccupsNausea and vomitingDyspepsiaToothache

Contraindications

Cautions

Warm and drying: not for heat patterns, nor for yin deficiency with heat signs, and it will aggravate vomiting or hiccup caused by Stomach heat. Classical antagonism: it is not combined with Yu Jin 郁金. Undiluted clove essential oil is irritating to skin and mucous membranes and is a different preparation from the dispensary herb — do not substitute one for the other.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution in pregnancy — it is warm and aromatic; culinary amounts are a different matter from medicinal doses.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    2. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
    3. 《中药学》 (standard materia medica curriculum).

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.