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Huo Xiang藿香

Pogostemonis Herba, Herba Agastaches seu Pogostemi · Patchouli Herb · Agastache

Aromatic Herbs that Transform Dampness 化湿药《名医别录》

Overview

The defining aromatic herb for damp obstructing the middle burner, and the standby for the humid-season stomach upset: it rouses a Spleen weighed down by damp, settles nausea and vomiting, and releases the mild exterior chill caught in hot damp weather — the pattern behind Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San. Two plants are supplied under the name: Pogostemon cablin, the stronger and more commonly dispensed, and Agastache rugosa. Its volatile oils do the work, so it is added in the last minutes of the decoction rather than boiled long.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid · Slightly warm

Channels

Spleen · Stomach · Lung

Typical Dosage

5–10 g in decoction
藿香Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Transforms dampness, rouses the SpleenHeavy limbs, stuffiness in the chest and epigastrium, no appetite, a thick greasy tongue coating.
  • Harmonizes the middle, stops vomitingNausea and vomiting from damp blocking the middle burner; also used for the nausea of early pregnancy under professional care.
  • Releases the exterior in summer-dampSummer chills and fever with headache, heaviness, abdominal pain and diarrhea after cold food in hot weather.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Huo Xiang

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite from dampness
    - Summer colds with heaviness, headache and diarrhea
    - Chest and epigastric fullness with a greasy tongue coating

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

GastroenteritisNauseaMotion sicknessTraveler's diarrhea

Contraindications

Cautions

Aromatic, drying and dispersing: unsuitable where the pattern is yin deficiency with heat, or where vomiting comes from Stomach fire rather than damp. Prolonged boiling drives off the volatile oils and wastes the herb.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Traditionally regarded as compatible with pregnancy and used for morning sickness in classical practice; even so, take it in pregnancy only on a practitioner's prescription.

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》.

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.