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Cura x Cura

Xiang Ru香薷

Moslae Herba · Chinese Mosla · Elsholtzia

Herbs that Release the Exterior 解表药《名医别录》

Overview

Acrid and slightly warm, Xiang Ru releases an exterior contracted in hot weather — the summertime chill of iced drinks, night breezes and cold rooms laid over summerheat-damp. Because it does in summer what Ma Huang does in winter it has long been nicknamed summer's Ma Huang. It also transforms damp, harmonizes the middle burner and promotes urination in edema that still carries an exterior pattern.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid · Slightly warm

Channels

Lung · Spleen · Stomach

Typical Dosage

3–9 g in decoction
香薷Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Releases the exterior, disperses summertime coldSummer chills and fever without sweating, headache and body ache after cold exposure in hot weather.
  • Transforms damp, harmonizes the middleChest oppression, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea of summerheat-damp.
  • Promotes urination, reduces swellingEdema with scanty urine where an exterior pattern is still present.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Xiang Ru

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Summertime chills and fever without sweating, headache, heaviness
    - Summerheat-damp with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea
    - Edema with scanty urine and an exterior pattern

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Summer coldGastroenteritisEdemaHeat exhaustion

Contraindications

Cautions

Sweat-inducing: not for an exterior deficiency pattern that is already sweating, nor for summerheat with profuse sweating and thirst, where it would deplete fluids further. It is traditionally taken cooled rather than hot — a hot decoction can provoke nausea and vomiting.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction — practitioner judgment applies

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Ming Yi Bie Lu《名医别录》(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.