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Mei Gui Hua玫瑰花

Flos Rosae Rugosae · Rugosa Rose Bud · Chinese Rose Bud

Herbs that Regulate the Qi 理气药《食物本草》

Overview

The unopened bud of the rugosa rose, picked before it blooms and dried whole so the scent is kept. Sweet, slightly bitter and warm, it is the mildest of the qi-moving herbs and the one most easily taken as a tea: it loosens a constrained Liver without the drying harshness of the stronger herbs in its class, and it moves blood just enough to ease breast tenderness and period pain of the tense, premenstrual kind. Its gentleness is the point — it is prescribed for the everyday stagnation of stress, low mood and irritable digestion, over weeks rather than as an acute intervention.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet, slightly bitter · Warm

Channels

Liver · Spleen

Typical Dosage

1.5–6 g in decoction
玫瑰花Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Moves qi, relieves constraintLow mood, sighing, a tight chest and irritability with poor appetite — Liver qi that is stuck rather than depleted.
  • Harmonises blood, eases painPremenstrual breast distension, irregular periods and cramping period pain of the qi-stagnation type.
  • Settles the middleEpigastric fullness, belching and nausea where tension is driving the digestive symptoms.
  • Prepared as an infusionThe action lives in the aroma, so the buds are infused in hot water or added at the end of a decoction rather than boiled at length.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Mei Gui Hua

No published formula lists this herb yet — the library is growing.

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Liver qi constraint with low mood, sighing and chest tightness
    - Premenstrual breast distension and irritability
    - Irregular or painful periods of the qi-stagnation type
    - Epigastric fullness and belching aggravated by stress

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Premenstrual syndromeFunctional dyspepsiaLow moodDysmenorrhea

Contraindications

Cautions

Mild, but warm and aromatic, and aromatic herbs consume fluids: it is not the right choice for yin deficiency with heat, a dry mouth and a red tongue with little coating, and long daily use in those patients tends to make the dryness worse. It also moves blood gently, so use it with care where bleeding is heavy or prolonged. Rose is a common allergen in cosmetics and teas; stop it if a rash or itching appears.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution in pregnancy — it moves qi and blood, and although it is gentle, regular use during pregnancy should be a practitioner's decision.

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. 《中华本草》 (modern comprehensive materia medica).

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.