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Huai Jiao槐角

Sophorae Fructus · Sophora Fruit · Japanese Pagoda Tree Pod

Herbs that Stop Bleeding 止血药Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing 《神农本草经》(recorded as 槐实)

Overview

The pod-shaped fruit of the same pagoda tree that yields Huai Hua Mi, and the heavier, more downward-moving of the pair. Bitter and cold, it cools blood in the Large Intestine, drains Liver heat and moistens the bowel on its way through, which is why it heads the standard hemorrhoid prescriptions. Dry-frying tempers its coldness and favours the hemostatic side; honey-frying softens it further and adds moistening for dry, hard stools. Dispensaries often shelve dry-fried beside it — that is the processed flower bud, covered under Huai Hua Mi, not a form of the fruit.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter · Cold

Channels

Liver · Large Intestine

Typical Dosage

6–12 g in decoction
槐角Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Cools the blood, stops bleedingHemorrhoidal bleeding with swelling and pain, blood in the stool, heat-type uterine bleeding. The pod is regarded as slower and more sustained in effect than the flower bud.
  • Clears Liver heatRed eyes, headache and dizziness where Liver heat rises.
  • Moistens and moves the bowelDry stool alongside intestinal heat — a secondary effect that becomes an unwanted one when stools are already loose.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Huai Jiao

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Hemorrhoids with bleeding, swelling and pain
    - Blood in the stool, heat-type uterine bleeding
    - Liver-heat red eyes and headache

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

HemorrhoidsRectal bleedingConstipation with heatConjunctivitis

Contraindications

Cautions

Cold and downward-draining: wrong for bleeding of deficiency or cold, and unsuitable in Spleen-Stomach deficiency with loose stools, which it makes worse. Where digestion is weak but the herb is still indicated, the dry-fried or honey-fried form is preferred.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Traditionally avoided in pregnancy — cold, downward-draining and bowel-moving. Do not self-administer while pregnant.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(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.