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Cura x Cura

Ju Hua菊花

Chrysanthemi Flos · Chrysanthemum Flower

Herbs that Release the Exterior 解表药《神农本草经》

Overview

Sweet, slightly bitter and slightly cold, chrysanthemum flower releases wind-heat lightly while settling the Liver — a combination that makes it the everyday herb for red, dry, sore eyes and for headache and dizziness with a wind-heat or rising-yang picture. The yellow-flowered grade disperses wind-heat more strongly and the white-flowered grade favours the Liver and the eyes; dry-fried Ju Hua is less cold and easier on a cool middle burner. Ye Ju Hua is a separate herb with a far stronger toxin-clearing action.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid, sweet, bitter · Slightly cold

Channels

Lung · Liver

Typical Dosage

5–9 g in decoction
菊花Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Disperses wind-heatFever, headache and sore throat at the start of a wind-heat illness — classically with Sang Ye 桑叶.
  • Calms the Liver, brightens the eyesRed, swollen, dry or light-sensitive eyes; blurred vision of Liver-Kidney deficiency when combined with tonics.
  • Subdues rising Liver yangHeadache, dizziness and irritability where Liver yang is rising.
  • Clears heat toxinSores and swellings, though Ye Ju Hua is the stronger choice for this.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Ju Hua

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Wind-heat colds with headache and eye irritation
    - Red, painful, dry or light-sensitive eyes
    - Dizziness and headache from rising Liver yang
    - Blurred vision of Liver-Kidney deficiency (with tonifying herbs)

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

ConjunctivitisHypertensionHeadacheEye strain

Contraindications

Cautions

Cool and light: unsuitable for wind-cold colds, and of little help — taken long-term — to qi-deficient patients with poor appetite and loose stool.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction — practitioner judgment applies

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.